Context
Brazil has started developing four diesel submarines as part of its 2008 contract with France which includes the future development of the first-ever nuclear submarine in Latin America. President Dilma Rousseff was present at Saturday’s ceremony to mark the launch of operations at the site where the Scorpene attack submarines are to be built. Each vessel is going to cost around $565mn and the first is due to be completed in 2016. According to the Brazilian navy, the four submarines represent the first step toward the construction of the country’s first-ever nuclear-propelled submarine.
