The Brazilian Navy, on September 1, 2022, commissioned the first of four Scorpene-class submarines on order. The Riachuelo is realised through technology transfer from the Naval Group.
Although this submarine was designed by the Naval Group of France, the construction of the submarine was entirely carried out in Brazil by Itaguaí Construções Navais (ICN). It is renamed as Riachuelo class. It is the seventh boat of the Brazilian Navy to receive this name to honour the Battle of the Riachuelo, which took place in 1865 in the Paraguayan War.
Riachuelo was first launched in December 2018. This conventional submarine has anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, long-range attack, intelligence gathering, and special operations capabilities.
The submarine is equipped with six launcher tubes with 18 torpedoes and missiles.
Riachuelo has a length of 72 m and a surface displacement weight of 1,600 – 2,000 tons. This submarine can travel at a dive speed of above 30 knots and can dive to a maximum depth of 300 m.
Riachuelo has a crew of 35 people. This submarine can be at sea for 45 days.
