SOUTH AMERICANS WITH BIG AMBITIONS
The ‘ABC’ fleets of Argentina, Brazil and Chile have traditionally been the dominant naval forces in
Latin America. Pre-eminent amongst these is the Brazilian Marihna do Brasil. The first navy in the region to operate Dreadnought type battleships and the first to purchase an aircraft carrier, the Brazilian Navy has long sought technological leadership over its local rivals.
Recent years have been more difficult. While avoiding the collapse in naval capability experienced by neighbouring Argentina, Brazil’s navy has struggled to obtain the resources needed to maintain a balanced fleet. Many ships have been paid off for disposal without immediate replacement. Others have been laid up in harbour awaiting funding for repair.
The navy has devised ambitious plans to reverse the rot. New submarine (‘PROSUB’) and surface warship (‘PROSUPER’) construction programmes have been drafted as the first instalments of a longerterm blueprint to rebuild a regionally dominant fleet. Unfortunately,
