Brazil receives first Tamandaré-class frigate to protect Amazonia Azul maritime zone.

The Brazilian Navy formally received the first Tamandaré-class frigate as part of the replacement of Niteroi-class frigates and expansion of maritime security operations in the Amazonia Azul maritime area.

The Brazilian Navy formally received the first Tamandaré-class frigate, the Tamandaré (F200), on March 9, 2026, before its official commissioning. Built under the Programa Fragatas Classe Tamandare (PFCT) program, the vessel is the lead ship of four MEKO-based frigates being built in Brazil by the Aguas Azuis consortium. The program supports the replacement of Niteroi-class frigates and the expansion of maritime security operations in the Amazonia Azul maritime area.
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The Tamandaré frigate will provide escort, anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance, and protection of maritime infrastructure and sea lines of communication across the maritime region known as the Amazônia Azul, a maritime area exceeding 5.7 million km². (Picture source: Embraer)

On March 9, 2026, the first Tamandaré-class frigate was formally handed over to the Brazilian Navy prior to operational commissioning, marking a key milestone in the Programa Fragatas Classe Tamandaré (PFCT), a naval modernization effort initiated in 2017 to replace aging surface combatants and strengthen maritime control capabilities. The vessel, the Tamandaré (F200), is the lead ship of four general-purpose frigates scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2029. The program addresses the progressive retirement of the Niterói-class frigates introduced in the 1970s, the Broadsword-class vessels acquired from the United Kingdom in the 1990s, and the Inhaúma-class corvettes. These new frigates are intended to provide escort capability, anti-submarine warfare coverage, maritime surveillance, and protection of maritime infrastructure and sea lines of communication.

Operational deployment is planned across the maritime region known as the Amazônia Azul, a maritime area exceeding 5.7 million km² that includes offshore oil fields, fisheries resources, shipping lanes, and energy infrastructure. The Tamandaré-class is also intended to participate in search and rescue missions, international naval operations, and maritime security patrols. The Programa Fragatas Classe Tamandaré (PFCT) is managed by the Empresa Gerencial de Projetos Navais (Emgepron) and implemented through Águas Azuis, a consortium formed by Germany's ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), Brazil's Embraer Defesa & Segurança, and Atech, a company belonging to the Embraer Group responsible for engineering and systems integration.

The consortium was selected in March 2019 following a competitive evaluation process involving proposals from shipbuilders in seventeen countries. A construction contract covering the first four ships was signed on March 6, 2020. The PFCT program incorporates industrial participation and technology transfer requirements to ensure domestic construction and integration of combat systems. Approximately 40 percent of the components integrated into each frigate are produced domestically, with Brazilian companies involved in ship structure manufacturing, electronics integration, and weapons support activities. The program also includes agreements for operational training, maintenance, and lifecycle support of the ships. 

Construction of the Tamandaré frigates takes place at the ThyssenKrupp Estaleiro Brasil Sul shipyard located in Itajaí, Santa Catarina. This facility was acquired and modernized by ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems to support the construction of the class and represents the company’s first shipyard in Latin America. The construction process uses modular block assembly derived from the MEKO ship design concept, enabling large structural sections to be produced separately and later joined during final assembly. Work on the lead ship Tamandaré began with the cutting of the first steel plate in June 2022, and the keel was laid on March 24, 2023. The ship was launched on August 9, 2024, and subsequently transferred to a floating dock where installation of propulsion systems, sensors, and combat equipment continued.

The vessel underwent harbor acceptance tests and sea trials to verify propulsion, energy generation, automation systems, electrical distribution, and navigation performance before final delivery. The Tamandaré-class frigates are general-purpose escort ships with a displacement of about 3,455 to 3,500 tons. Each vessel measures 107.2 meters in length with a beam close to 16 meters and a draught of about 5.2 meters. Propulsion is based on a combined diesel and diesel (CODAD) configuration, consisting of four MAN V12 28/33D diesel engines producing a combined output of approximately 21,280 kW and driving two propeller shafts with controllable pitch propellers. Electrical power is generated by four Caterpillar C32 diesel generators rated at 1,417 kW each.

This configuration enables a maximum speed of 25.5 knots and a cruising speed of 14 knots. Operational range is about 5,500 nautical miles, while the endurance at sea is up to 28 days. The ships carry a crew of roughly 130 personnel and include a flight deck and hangar capable of operating a medium helicopter, such as the S-70B Seahawk or H225M, as well as a ScanEagle unmanned aerial system. The combat equipment includes a 12-cell vertical launch system capable of firing Sea Ceptor surface-to-air missiles for short and medium-range air defense. Anti-ship capability is provided by eight MANSUP missiles developed through Brazilian industrial cooperation and based on the Exocet design lineage.

Anti-submarine warfare capability includes two triple launchers for Mk 54 lightweight torpedoes supported by a hull-mounted sonar. The primary naval gun is a 76 mm Oto Melara Super Rapid gun mounted forward, capable of engaging surface targets, aerial threats, and coastal targets. Close-range protection is provided by a Rheinmetall Sea Snake 30 mm close-in weapon system and two Sea Defender 12.7 mm remote-controlled weapon stations. Electronic countermeasures include the Terma C-Guard decoy launching system, designed to counter missile threats and radar-guided weapons. Sensor systems integrated into the frigates include the Hensoldt TRS-4D active electronically scanned array multifunction radar operating in the C-band, capable of tracking up to 1,000 targets at distances reaching 250 km.

Additional sensors include the Thales STIR 1.2 fire control radar, the Atlas Elektronik ASO 713 hull-mounted sonar, and the Safran PASEO XLR electro-optical targeting system. Navigation and ship control rely on the Anschütz Synapsis integrated bridge system and NSX navigation radar. Electronic warfare capability is provided by the Omnisys MAGE Defensor system, which includes electronic support measures, electronic countermeasures, and signals intelligence functions. Satellite communication systems and identification, friend or foe (IFF) equipment support long-range communication and integration with allied naval forces. Operational integration of sensors, weapons, propulsion, and auxiliary systems is managed through two digital control architectures.

The Combat Management System (CMS) integrates 22 combat subsystems and coordinates detection, target classification, weapons assignment, and engagement procedures. The Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS) supervises propulsion, electrical power generation, auxiliary machinery, and damage control systems across the ship. These two systems enable the centralized monitoring and automation of critical ship functions, while reducing crew workload. Both systems are integrated by Atech with international partners and configured specifically for Brazilian naval operational requirements. 

Ship construction incorporates a digital production approach based on a paperless engineering process, in which shipyard personnel access design drawings, procedures, and inspection data through digital terminals and mobile devices. Engineering teams located in Brazil and Germany update technical data in real time, allowing rapid verification of installation procedures and configuration changes. Augmented reality equipment is used to overlay digital models on structural components during assembly, enabling technicians to verify alignment and detect possible interference between systems before installation.

The shipyard also implements environmental monitoring programs covering water use, atmospheric emissions, industrial waste, and chemical management in accordance with corporate environmental targets. These targets include the reduction of scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 30 percent by 2030 and climate neutrality by 2050. The PFCT program generates employment and industrial activity within the Brazilian defense sector and associated industries. Approximately 2,000 personnel are directly engaged in construction work at the shipyard.

Indirect employment linked to suppliers and subcontractors is estimated at about 6,000 jobs, while induced employment across related sectors reaches about 15,000 positions, bringing total employment impact to roughly 23,000 jobs. The frigates support maritime security operations over Brazil’s extensive coastline and maritime jurisdiction. The Amazônia Azul region contains offshore oil production areas, mineral resources, fisheries zones, environmental reserves, major ports, and energy infrastructure. Control of this maritime area is considered central to national economic activity since most of Brazil’s international trade is transported by sea and a significant share of the country’s oil production is extracted from offshore fields.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.