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Brazil will launch its fourth submarine, the Tikuna, on Wednesday, March 9. The construction of the vessel at the Navy Arsenal in Rio de Janeiro resulted in the generation of 2.1 thousand indirect jobs.
According to the Navy's Public Relations Service, construction of the Tikuna began in 1996 and Brazil is the only country south of the Equator capable of building submarines.
Also according to the Navy, only 15 countries in the world build vessels of this size. The technological preparation of the Arsenal began in 1979, and over the last 26 years, 4 submarines have been constructed.
The project for the Tikuna is an adaptation of the German IKL-209. The vessel is 60 meters long and 6 meters wide and can operate at depths superior to 200 meters.
The vessel is an adaptation of the German IKL-209 model, but it "includes various technological innovations developed by Brazilian engineers, especially regarding electrical energy generation, in the shot guidance system and in the sensors."
Submarine Tikuna was manufactured at the Navy Yard in Rio de Janeiro and is the fifth in its class to go into operation in the country. The first was built in Germany by the Howaldtswerke Deustche (HDW) consortium.
The other three units, Tamoio, Timbira and Tapajós, were produced at the Navy Yard in Rio de Janeiro, through an agreement for technology transfer.
Tupi class submarines may carry a crew of 30 and over 1,400 tons under the water. The maximum speed is 21.5 knots when submerged. The vessels have eight torpedo launchers and transport 16 torpedoes or mines.
The Tikuna has been improved, however. The vessel may have a crew of up to 42, among them sailors, technicians and officers, with a capacity for transport of 1,550 tons under water, and reaches a top speed of
25 knots. The vessel may spend up to 50 days in operation.
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