Brazil Accelerates PROSUB Nuclear Submarine Drive with €528 Million in New Naval Group Contracts
RIO DE JANEIRO / BRASÍLIA (5 September 2025) — In a decisive step forward for its strategic submarine development program, Brazil’s Navy has signed two major contracts with France’s Naval Group, together worth over €528 million, marking a significant boost in the country’s ambition to field a nuclear-powered submarine under PROSUB.
Published in the Diário Oficial da União on 28 August 2025, the contracts were awarded by the Navy’s Directorate-General for Nuclear and Technological Development (DGDNTM) without a bidding process.
Contract Details & Scope
-
Contract No. 21/2025 – Valued at €246.3 million, this deal commissions specialized electromechanical engineering services, procurement, and construction for the Controlled Auxiliary Building (PAC) at the Nuclear Power Generation Laboratory (LABGENE). The agreement spans 72 months, effective from 4 June 2025.
-
Contract No. 20/2025 – At €282.1 million, this contract covers highly specialized technical consultancy services for the Additional Systems of the Conventionally Armed Nuclear Submarine (SNCA), also beginning in June and scheduled to run for 54 months.
Together, the contracts sum to approximately €528.4 million, underlining Brazil’s commitment to keep the nuclear submarine program on schedule.
Reinforcing PROSUB’s Strategic Trajectory
Since its launch in 2008, the Submarine Development Program (PROSUB) has been Brazil’s flagship defense-industrial initiative. It includes the construction of four Scorpène-class conventional submarines and the development of the country’s first nuclear-powered submarine, with French technical support and technology transfer.
So far, two Scorpène-class submarines—S-40 Riachuelo and S-41 Humaitá—are fully in service. The third, S-42 Tonelero, is undergoing sea trials, while the fourth, S-43 Angostura (Almirante Karam), is nearing completion. The nuclear submarine, SN-10 Álvaro Alberto, is projected to be delivered between 2032 and 2034, marking Brazil’s entry into the exclusive group of nations with nuclear-powered subs.
LABGENE & Technical Consultancy
-
LABGENE, located in Iperó, São Paulo, is a vital land-based test facility for Brazil’s nuclear propulsion systems. The new PAC building will house key electromechanical infrastructure for testing and optimizing the nuclear reactor before integration into the submarine.
-
The second contract ensures expert consultancy for the SNCA’s additional systems, which are expected to cover critical domains such as navigation, combat integration, auxiliary functions, and onboard safety mechanisms.
These measures are essential for ensuring the readiness of Brazil’s nuclear submarine program, balancing technological complexity with operational safety.
Strategic Importance & Industrial Benefits
The PROSUB initiative has transformed Brazil’s Itaguaí Naval Complex into a cutting-edge hub for submarine construction, featuring advanced dry docks, structural assembly units, maintenance facilities, and shiplifts capable of handling up to 8,000 tonnes.
Hundreds of Brazilian engineers and technicians have trained both domestically and in France, strengthening expertise in welding, engineering design, nuclear systems, and combat systems integration. Beyond strengthening defense capabilities, PROSUB is a driver of local job creation, technology transfer, and industrial modernization.
With the signing of these contracts, Brazil is consolidating the foundations of its nuclear submarine program. If timelines hold, the Álvaro Alberto will be operational by 2034, cementing Brazil’s position as a naval power capable of safeguarding the South Atlantic and contributing to global maritime security.
