Brazil, India agree to co-operate on submarine programmes

Brazil and India have both implemented submarine-building programmes based on the Scorpène design, such as the Brazilian S Tonelero , shown here at the Ilha da Madeira Submarine Base in November 2025. (Victor Barreira)

The General Directorate of Navy Materiel (DGMM) of the Brazilian Navy, the Indian Navy, and the Indian state-owned shipbuilder Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MOU) to co-operate on further enhancing operational availability and life-cycle support of their Naval Group Scorpène-type, diesel-electric-powered multirole attack submarines on 9 December, the DGMM confirmed.

According to the DGMM, the MOU establishes technical and industrial co-operation and simultaneously opens ways for the exchange of information, spare parts support, the training of submarine maintenance personnel, and the joint development of technologies.

The Brazilian privately owned shipbuilder Itaguaí Construções Navais (ICN) built four Scorpène-based Riachuelo-class S-BR submarines for the Brazilian Navy as part of the Submarines Development Program PROSUB (Programa de Desenvolvimento de Submarinos), and India's MDL built six Kalvari-class submarines for the Indian Navy as part of the P75 project.

The S-BR has a length of 71.6 m and a surface displacement of 1,870 tonnes, while the Indian Navy's Kalvari-class submarine has a length of 67.5 m and a displacement of 1,615 tonnes.

Brazil chose to extend the hull to provide increased storage capacity for fuel, food, and supplies, thereby increasing endurance, a key requirement given the extent of its territorial waters.

For more information about the Brazilian submarine programme, please seeBrazil reaches submarine programme milestones .

Both the S-BR and P75 submarines are equipped with SUBTICS (Submarine Tactical Integrated Combat System) and the Thales S-Cube integrated sonar suite.