Brazil completes navigation tests for first homegrown submarine ahead of July delivery

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Riachuelo submarine, the first of the Brazilian Navy’s (MB) Submarine Development Program (Prosub), recently completed a series of navigation tests. According to the Brazilian Ambassador to France, Luís Fernando Serra, this is one of the final preparations before the submarine’s delivery to the Brazilian Navy, scheduled for July.

The tests involved MB, Naval Group, and Fundação Ezute, a Brazilian defense company contracted by the French shipyard for technology transfer, knowledge transfer, and local content production related to the combat system, which in turn includes several other systems.

This event is a milestone for Ezute, who has been working on the Prosub since 2011 as a knowledge and technology absorber in systems engineering, software development, and integration of the submarine’s combat system.

Ezute systems engineer Robson Cáceres represented the organization during these tests, which were an essential phase for the Brazilian Navy’s acceptance of the submarine.

“For us at Ezute, participating in these latest tests is a testament to the skills our people have acquired in the previous phases of the project, both in Brazil and in France, so we can benefit from the experience gained in this important milestone of the transfer project, where we are directly linked to the Naval Group and the Brazilian Navy,” explained Cáceres.

The engineer also confirmed that conducting the activities in such a constrained environment as that of a submarine provides a complete view of the dynamic behavior of the combat system and other systems of the submarine.

“I experienced in practice the routines and adaptations to the constraints on board. I was also able to shadow the submarine’s highly skilled crew,” he said.

SCOPE OF EZUTE’S WORK

Since 2011, Ezute has been involved in the technical project, development, and integration activities in Brazil and France in systems engineering, integration, and software.

Currently, the foundation is also involved in installing infrastructure, wiring, equipment installation, work setting, integration, testing, and validation of the systems that make up the combat system at the SIF (Shore Integration Facility) at the Madeira Island submarine base.