Germany and Brazil have formalized a deal to acquire four additional Tamandaré-class frigates for the Brazilian Navy, expanding the ongoing naval modernization program. Construction will be undertaken by Águas Azuis, a consortium formed by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), Embraer Defence & Security, and Atech, with work carried out in Brazilian shipyards.
The delivery of these vessels is scheduled by 2028, as confirmed by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after discussions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Hannover.
The Tamandaré program, overseen by the Brazilian Navy and managed by EMGEPRON, was initially signed in March 2020 with a value of 9.1 billion Brazilian reals (about $1.82 billion). It is designed to replace aging fleets, including the Niterói-class frigates, the UK-origin Type 22 (Broadsword-class) ships, and the Inhaúma-class corvettes.
Based on the MEKO A-100 design from TKMS, each frigate is 107 meters long with a 16-meter beam, displacing roughly 3,500 tonnes and supporting a crew of about 130 personnel. The ships are equipped with a 76mm main gun, a 30mm close-in weapon system, 12.7mm remote machine guns, anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles, torpedoes, and a flight deck capable of operating a medium helicopter or UAV.
