Brazil launched the first of five attack submarines built with French technology in a $8.9 billion program planned to end in 2029 with delivery of a nuclear-powered submarine.

The 1,700-ton submarine “Riachuelo”, built by the submarine development program (PROSUB). İs lowered into the sea at a Rio de Janeiro naval base

The submarines being built by the Brazilian Navy in partnership with France’s defence company Naval Group, are a modified version of the Scorpene class diesel-powered submarine.

While the first four submarines in the deal with Naval Group are conventional subs, the fifth will be nuclear-powered one.