Brazilian Navy frigate programme launches second ship

Tamandaré-class frigate Jerônimo de Albuquerque was launched at tkMS Estaleiro Brasil Sul on 8 August. (Brazilian Navy)

The Brazilian Navy's Tamandaré-class Frigates Program (Programa Fragatas Classe Tamandaré: PFCT) on 8 August formally launched the second ship, Jerônimo de Albuquerque (F 201), at local shipbuilder tkMS Estaleiro Brasil Sul, the General Directorate of Navy Materiel told Janes .

The ship will soon undergo final outfitting, integration activity, and pier and sea trials before scheduled commissioning by Surface Force Command in January 2027.

First-of-class frigate Tamandaré (F 200) is to soon start sea trials towards a planned commissioning in December 2025.

tkMS Estaleiro Brasil Sul is also building another two frigates, Cunha Moreira (F 202) and Mariz e Barros (F 203), for commissioning by the Brazilian Navy in February 2028 and February 2029 respectively.

The fleet was contracted in March 2020 by state-owned EMGEPRON (Empresa Gerencial de Projetos Navais) to the Águas Azuis consortium, as part of the navy's ‘Strategic Program Naval Power Modernization'.

Brazil's Directorate of Navy Programs Management told Janes that, depending on available budget, an additional four frigates could be ordered later.

The ships measure 107.2 m in length and displace 3,455 tonnes. They are equipped with a flight deck hangar for a helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicle, space to accommodate mission containers, electronic warfare equipment, command-and-control and navigation systems, and various armaments.

The vessels are designed for missions including anti-submarine warfare, air-defence warfare, anti-surface combat, search and rescue, surveillance, and patrol in the country's ‘Amazônia Azul' 5.7 million km² exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

For more information, please see Brazilian Navy's Tamandaré-class frigate effort set to achieve milestones .