Brazil’s new class of frigates sets the tone for naval expansion plan

(Louis Bearn – IISS) On 24 April 2026, Brazil’s surface-fleet modernisation effort achieved a major milestone with the commissioning of its first Tamandaré-class frigate, based on the German MEKO A-100 design. The lead ship, constructed in Brazil by the Águas Azuis Consortium, represents the Brazilian Navy’s first commissioning of a new frigate class in almost two decades. Furthermore, in a departure from previous vessels, the ship was constructed entirely domestically, with subsequent units to follow suit, possibly in the mid-2030s. In April 2026, the Brazilian Navy confirmed that a second batch of four frigates will be constructed, bringing the total number of planned vessels to eight. The commissioning and the programme’s extension reflect the country’s aspirations to transform its naval capabilities, as underscored in its 2023 national maritime strategy. It also represents a long-overdue modernisation drive, based for the first time largely on domestic production, with overseas technical support. This modernisation effort faces uncertainty, however, as questions linger over whether Brazil can afford the planned second batch of follow-on frigates on top of its capital-intensive conventional and nuclear-powered submarine programme, which has already encountered delays. – Brazil’s new class of frigates sets the tone for naval expansion plan