Home Americas Brazil awards $1.6b contract for four Tamandare-class corvettes

Brazil awards $1.6b contract for four Tamandare-class corvettes

Tamandare-class
Tamandare-class illustration. Photo: TKMS

The Brazilian defense ministry and state-owned company Emgepron have signed a contract worth up to $1.6 billion for the construction of four Tamandare-class corvettes for the Brazilian Navy.

The contract was signed with Águas Azuis, a company created by Germany’s thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, and Brazilian companies Embraer Defense & Security and Atech.

The four ships, which will be based on thyssenkrupp’s MEKO design, will be built in Brazil and delivered between 2025 and 2028.

thyssenkrupp Marine Systems will supply the naval technology, while Embraer will integrate sensors and weaponry into the combat system. Atech, an Embraer Group company, will be the supplier of the CMS (combat management system) and IPMS (integrated platform management system, from L3 MAPPS), and the recipient of technology transfer in cooperation with ATLAS ELEKTRONIK.

“We are grateful to participate again in such important milestone in the history of Brazil’s naval defence with the most advanced ships in their class. Looking back the great achievements we had since the construction of Tupi Class submarines in 1980s, it is a recognition of the technological excellence, reliability and longevity solutions we have offered for almost two centuries,” said Dr. Rolf Wirtz, CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems.

In addition to construction, the contract includes a sustained transfer of technology in naval engineering for building military ships and combat and platform management systems, as well as integrated logistical support and lifecycle management.

The corvettes will be equipped with MBDA’s SeaCeptor surface-to-air and Exocet MM40 Block 3 anti-ship missile systems, a Leonardo 76/62 main gun, a C-Guard decoy launcher and SEA’s torpedo launch system. The 107-meter corvettes will also be fitted with FN Herstal’s remote weapon stations.