Tamandaré-class frigate
{{short description|Brazilian frigate class}}
The Tamandaré class is a series of stealth frigates being built for the Brazilian Navy, based on the MEKO family of warships. The project was developed by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in partnership with Embraer Defense and Security. As of 2025, four ships have been ordered with other four planned.
History
The program was created in 2017 with the main purpose of replacing all the current major surface combatants of the {{sclass|Niterói|frigate|0}} frigates in operation since 1975, the {{sclass|Broadsword|frigate|0}} boats acquired second-hand from the United Kingdom in the 1990s, and the {{sclass|Inhaúma|corvette|0}} corvettes.{{cite web|url=https://www.marinha.mil.br/programa-classe-tamandare|title=Programa Fragatas Classe Tamandaré|website=Marinha do Brasil|language=pt|access-date=17 October 2024}} Several companies from seventeen countries entered in the competition opened by the Ministry of Defence, offering different types of projects and offset packages. The list of all participating companies was released on 16 May 2017.{{Cite news|url=http://www.defesanet.com.br/prosuper/noticia/25772/Corvetas-Classe-Tamandare---Marinha-do-Brasil-encerra-a-primeira-etapa-do-projeto-de-obtencao/|title=Classe Tamandaré - Marinha do Brasil encerra a primeira etapa do projeto de obtenção|date=16 May 2017|website=Defesa Net|language=pt}}
After more than a year of studies by the Directorate of Program Management of the Navy and the Naval Projects Management Company, the short-list of the finalist projects was released in October 2018, the selected projects were: ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and the MEKO A-100, the Sigma-class of Damen Group, the Gowind-class of Naval Group and Fincantieri with Brazilian Navy's indigenous project variant.{{Cite news|url=https://www.naval.com.br/blog/2018/10/15/marinha-do-brasil-divulga-short-list-do-projeto-classe-tamandare|title=Marinha do Brasil divulga short-list do Projeto classe Tamandaré|date=15 October 2018|website=Poder Naval|language=pt}}
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems with a 3,500-ton MEKO A-100-class variant was declared winner in March 2019, with the contract for the first batch of four units signed on 6 March 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://noticias.uol.com.br/ultimas-noticias/agencia-estado/2020/03/04/marinha-compra-quatro-fragatas-por-r-91-bilhoes.htm|title=Marinha compra quatro fragatas por R$ 9,1 bilhões|date=4 March 2020|website=UOL|language=pt}} In January 2021, ThyssenKrupp confirmed the acquisition of the Oceana shipyard in Itajaí, becoming the company's first shipyard in Latin America, with the objective of building the new Brazilian frigates.{{Cite news|url=https://www.defesaaereanaval.com.br/naval/estaleiro-responsavel-por-construir-as-fragatas-classe-tamandare-agora-e-thyssenkrupp-estaleiro-brasil-sul|title=Estaleiro responsável por construir as fragatas Classe Tamandaré agora é thyssenkrupp Estaleiro Brasil Sul|date=12 January 2021|website=Defesa Aérea & Naval|language=pt}} The construction of the lead ship, Tamandaré, started in September 2022 and the launch ceremony of the boat took place in August 2024.{{cite web |title=La Armada de Brasil presenta la primera Fragata Tamandaré|url=https://www.pucara.org/post/la-armada-de-brasil-presenta-la-primera-fragata-tamarand%C3%A9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812120953/https://www.pucara.org/post/la-armada-de-brasil-presenta-la-primera-fragata-tamarand%C3%A9|date=9 August 2024 |archive-date=12 August 2024|language=es|website=Pucará Defensa}}
The Brazilian Navy announced plans to build a second batch of four more units in August 2024, confirming the National Maritime Strategy published by the MoD in 2023.{{cite web |title=Brazil's National Maritime Strategy|url=https://www.naval.com.br/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ema-310-edm-1ed.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240610080500/https://www.naval.com.br/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/ema-310-edm-1ed.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2024|language=pt|website=Poder Naval}} As of November 2023, each ship of the first batch cost around $555 million (R$2.77 billion), the total program cost was reported $2.2 billion.
Design
{{Gallery
|align=center
|Desenho da projeção da primeira Fragata Classe Tamandaré - 2022 (52942567212).png|3D model of Tamandaré
|Desenho da projeção da primeira Fragata Classe Tamandaré - 2022 (52942567207).jpg|2022 concept of the class
}}
The class was based on the MEKO family of warships, a concept of modern naval shipbuilding based on modularity of armament, electronics and other equipment, aiming at ease of maintenance and cost reduction. Designed as multi-mission vessels, the class is able to fulfill the anti-aircraft warfare role with GWS-35 vertical launching system surface-to-air missiles cells for up to 48 Sea Ceptor surface-to-air missiles in quad-pack configuration, anti-surface warfare with the Brazilian MANSUP missiles, and anti-submarine warfare. The class was developed with the two island philosophy.{{cite web|url=https://fiesc.com.br/pt-br/imprensa/competitividade-e-palavra-chave-para-fornecedores-do-projeto-das-fragatas |title=Competitividade é palavra-chave para fornecedores do projeto das fragatas |date=23 September 2020 |website=FIESC|language=pt}}
Tamandaré is equipped with the Hensoldt TRS-4D active electronically scanned array radar, able to track 1,000 targets at a range of up to {{cvt|250|km}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.hensoldt.net/products/trs-4d-rotating-antenna-multi-functional-naval-radar-for-surveillance-and-target-acquisition|title=TRS-4D rotating antenna|website=Hensoldt|access-date=May 15, 2025}} The combat management system (CMS) and the integrated platform management system (IPMS), designed by Atech, a subsidiary of Embraer, are a version derived from the Atlas ANCS and L3 Mapps, exclusively designed to meet the Brazilian requirements.{{cite web|url=https://www.defesaaereanaval.com.br/defesa/laad-tecnologias-da-atech-estao-presentes-em-projetos-estrategicos-de-defesa-no-brasil|title=LAAD: Tecnologias da Atech estão presentes em projetos estratégicos de defesa no Brasil|website=Defesa Aérea e Naval|access-date=May 15, 2025|date=March 27, 2025}}
Rheinmetall, a German defense company, is responsible for the supply of its new close-in weapon system, Sea Snake, armed with a 30 mm revolver cannon with ABM (air burst ammunition) capability.{{cite web |title=Sea Snake 30 brochure |url=https://www.rheinmetall.com/Rheinmetall%20Group/Systeme%20und%20Produkte/Systeme%20fuer%20die%20Marine/Waffensysteme%20und%20Munition/RWM_Sea_Snake_30_LREdition2_en.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525120929/https://www.rheinmetall.com/Rheinmetall%20Group/Systeme%20und%20Produkte/Systeme%20fuer%20die%20Marine/Waffensysteme%20und%20Munition/RWM_Sea_Snake_30_LREdition2_en.pdf |archive-date= 25 May 2024|website=Rheinmetall}} The MAGE Defensor suite responsible for the electronic warfare support measures (ESM), electronic countermeasure (ECM) and the electronic signals intelligence (ELINT) systems of the class, was developed by the Brazilian company Omnisys.{{cite web |title=MAGE Defensor brochure|url=https://www.omnisys.com.br/material-de-suporte/guerra-eletronica-mage-et_slr-1.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714132226/https://www.omnisys.com.br/material-de-suporte/guerra-eletronica-mage-et_slr-1.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2024|language=pt|website=Omnisys}} The class is fitted for, but not equipped with land-attack cruise missiles.
Participation of Brazilian companies
Like other major defense programs in the country, the government demanded the construction of the ships in Brazil, the participation of Brazilian companies in the industrial process and the transfer of technologies. Embraer, along its subsidiary Atech, are responsible for the integration of systems and sensors of the class, other companies like Akaer are involved in the industrial process, nationalizing components and parts of the structure to reduce costs and foreign dependence.{{cite web|url=https://www.defesaaereanaval.com.br/naval/akaer-entrega-as-primeiras-tres-escotilhas-para-a-fragata-tamandare|title=Akaer entrega as primeiras três escotilhas para a Fragata Tamandaré|website=Defesa Aérea e Naval|access-date=16 November 2024}} The ammunition for the Oto Melara 76 mm naval gun will be produced domestically, including the VULCANO variant.{{cite web|url=https://www.infodefensa.com/texto-diario/mostrar/4234435/marinha-do-brasil-vai-nacionalizar-munico-do-canho-76-62-das-fragatas-tamandare|title=Brasil fabricará localmente munição para os canhões 76/62 SR das fragatas Tamandaré|website=Infodefensa|date=31 March 2023|language=pt}} Around 40% of each ship's parts are produced in the country.{{cite web|url=https://www.zona-militar.com/2024/11/15/comenzo-la-construccion-de-la-tercera-de-las-nuevas-fragatas-clase-tamandare-de-la-marina-de-brasil/|title=Comenzó la construcción de la tercera de las nuevas fragatas clase Tamandaré de la Marina de Brasil|website=Zona Militar|date=16 November 2024|language=es}}
Ships of the class
The ships are named after key people in the history of the Imperial Brazilian Navy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.naval.com.br/blog/2014/10/28/segundo-o-site-alide-corvetas-da-classe-tamandare-ja-tem-nome|title=Segundo o site Alide, navios da classe Tamandaré já têm nome|website=Poder Naval|language=pt}}
| class="wikitable" border="1"
! scope="col" | Pennant no. ! scope="col" | Name ! scope="col" | Builder ! scope="col" | Laid down ! scope="col" | Launched ! scope="col" | Commissioned ! scope="col" | Status |
| colspan="8" |{{naval|Brazil}} (4 ordered + 4 planned) |
|---|
| scope="row" | F200
| {{ship|Brazilian frigate|Tamandaré||2}} | rowspan=8 align=left | ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Itajaí | Fitting out |
| scope="row" | F201
| {{ship|Brazilian frigate|Jerônimo de Albuquerque||2}} |
| scope="row" | F202
| {{ship|Brazilian frigate|Cunha Moreira||2}} | - |
| scope="row" | F203
| {{ship|Brazilian frigate|Mariz e Barros||2}} | - |
| scope="row" | F204
| TBA | - | - | - | Planned{{Cite news|url=https://www.infodefensa.com/texto-diario/mostrar/4957084/fragata-tamandare-e-lancada-marinha-do-brasil-e-governo-falam-em-2-lote-com-mais-quatro-navios|title=Fragata Tamandaré é lançada: Marinha do Brasil e Governo negociam um 2º lote com mais quatro navios|date=9 August 2024|access-date=5 May 2025|website=Infodefensa|language=pt}} |
| scope="row" | F205
| TBA | - | - | - |
| scope="row" | F206
| TBA | - | - | - |
| scope="row" | F207
| TBA | - | - | - |
See also
{{portal|Brazil}}
- {{sclass|Incheon|frigate|1}} (South Korea)
- {{sclass|Formidable|frigate|1}} (Singapore)
- {{sclass|Constellation|frigate|1}} (United States)
- {{sclass|Fridtjof Nansen|frigate|1}} (Norway)
- {{sclass|İstif|frigate|1}} (Turkey)
- Frégate de Défense et d'Intervention (France)
- {{sclass|Riachuelo|submarine|1}}
- Future of the Brazilian Armed Forces
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Tamandaré-class frigates}}
{{Ship classes of the Brazilian Navy}}