Brazil produces fuel for indigenous nuclear sub
Brazil has produced its first fuel tablets for the future nuclear-powered submarine Álvaro Alberto
Domestically produced uranium fuel will power the first Brazilian nuclear submarine.
Fuel for the first nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) in the Brazilian Navy has been produced for the first time at the Electronuclear Energy Generation Laboratory (LABGENE) in Sao Paulo, leveraging a partnership between the navy and fuel cycle organisation Nuclear Industries of Brazil (INB).
The Brazilian Navy Technological Center in São Paulo and INB reached an agreement in 2021 for the manufacture of uranium dioxide tablets to use for submarine propulsion. These tablets were produced between August and December 2021 to be integrated with nuclear turbines developed by LABGENE.
‘After production, these inserts will undergo several tests to validate the fuel element design, under nuclear safety aspects, in order to meet the requirements of the licensing process,’ the Brazilian Navy noted in a 4 January statement.
On 25 November 2021, the Brazilian Navy signed an agreement to start building the hull of the future SSN (called Álvaro Alberto).
French shipbuilder Naval Group is providing technical assistance across all aspects of the future SSN except for the nuclear reactor.
Shephard Defence Insight forecasts that Álvaro Alberto will be commissioned in 2034 for an estimated production cost of $2.4 billion.
The nuclear submarine is part of Brazil’s PROSUB project that also includes domestic development and construction of build four diesel-electric Riachuelo-class boats.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![NAVDEX 2025: First of UAE Navy’s four Falaj-3 OPVs commissioned]()
NAVDEX 2025: First of UAE Navy’s four Falaj-3 OPVs commissioned
The vessels were first discussed a full ten years before the commissioning ceremony, and three more are due within the next three years.
-
![Portuguese mothership of uncrewed vehicles locks in Cube ecosystem from SH Defence]()
Portuguese mothership of uncrewed vehicles locks in Cube ecosystem from SH Defence
The multi-purpose support ship being built by Damen for the Portuguese Navy has added a skidding system to its design to enhance its operational capabilities on launch.
-
![Royal Thai Navy enhances weaponry on its Tor 997 patrol boats]()
Royal Thai Navy enhances weaponry on its Tor 997 patrol boats
A new deal with EM&E Group has added Sentinel 30 remote stations to the boats’ armament profile.
-
![Israel Shipyards begins steel-cutting on new Reshef-class corvettes]()
Israel Shipyards begins steel-cutting on new Reshef-class corvettes
The new indigenously-built corvettes will replace Israel's Sa'ar 4.5 class which has been in service for four decades.
-
![USSOUTHCOM in ‘desperate need’ for fleet assets says commander]()
USSOUTHCOM in ‘desperate need’ for fleet assets says commander
Adm Holsey also warned that were “zero Navy P-8 aircraft available due to being pulled to other theatres”.
-
![Aselsan test-fires Turkey’s first indigenous naval defence missile]()
Aselsan test-fires Turkey’s first indigenous naval defence missile
The test of the Goksur missile is regarded as a pivotal moment of Turkey’s journey towards developing an indigenous naval defence capability.
