Embraer has delivered the first Tamandaré-class frigate, F200 Tamandaré, to the Brazilian Navy following its formal commissioning in Rio de Janeiro last week. During the ceremony, Embraer, TKMS, and the Brazilian Ministry of Defense signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build a second batch of four frigates, potentially doubling the fleet to eight vessels.
The F200, constructed at the Thyssenkrupp Estaleiro Brasil Sul shipyard in Itajaí, southern Brazil, was completed on schedule in under four years. This milestone highlights the efficiency of the Águas Azuis consortium—comprising Embraer Defence & Security, TKMS, and Atech—in delivering modern warships based on the German MEKO A-100 platform.
The frigates displace 3,455 tons, measure 107.2 meters in length, and feature advanced systems including domestically developed combat management by Atech and the MANSUP missile from SIATT. About 40% of components are Brazilian-made, reducing foreign dependency and bolstering local defense industry capabilities.
Three more frigates from the initial batch are under construction: F-21 Jerônimo de Albuquerque, launched in 2025 for 2027 commissioning; F-22 Cunha Moreira in 2028; and the fourth in 2029. The expansion aligns with a recent Brazil-Germany letter of intent, strengthening naval power projection in the South Atlantic’s ‘Blue Amazon’ and supporting fleet modernization from aging vessels.
This program enhances Brazil’s operational readiness and positions its shipbuilding sector for exports.