Brazilian Navy releases new 20-year plan

By Victor Barreira

The Brazilian Navy is looking to acquire mediumsized general-purpose helicopters and attack, antisubmarine (ASW) and reconnaissance helicopters, according to lhe recently released Brazilian Navy lates! Strategic Plan (Plano Estratégico da Marinha 2040/PEM 2040).

The Plan, which was publicly released on 1 O September, calls for a host of other new measures to be implemented over the next 20 years. For example, lhe Navy wants to significantly increase research-anddevelopment (R&D) to develop shipboard systems such as communications, detection, navigation, and electronic warfare. The R&D increases are also meant to help boost lhe country's Defence Technological and Industrial Base (DTIB).

The Navy also wants to achieve a minimum of 65% of ships and aircraft operational availability, create a cyber-warfare squadron, and bolster its satellite ability to intercept maritime communications.

According to the Plan, lhe Navy is, now going to focus more heavily on operations in lhe Southern Atlantic Ocean, paying particular attention to threats such as piracy, illegal fishing, organised crime, urban conflicts, natural resources dispute, cyber warfare, terrorism, illegal access to knowledge, lhe pandemics, natural disasters, and environmental issues.

The document, which does no! describe exact schedules, also covers a range of modernisation projects that were previously planned or initiated, but no! yet effectively implemented or concluded. These include lhe acquisition of vessels (mine-hunting ships, escort ships, aircraft carriers, a logistics support ship, coastal and offshore patrol ships, Antarctic support ship, training ships, and survey ships), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), fighter jets, and lightweight training and utility helicopters. ln addition, lhe Plan aims at lhe enlargement and modernisation of equipment used by lhe Marines Corps, lhe development of anti-ship missiles, and lhe, local construction of the country's first nuclear-powered submarine SN Álvaro Alberto.

(Adapted from https://www.janes.com/)