More Navies Want To Have Nuclear Submarines

The Brazilian Navy's locally-built Scorpène Class submarine Riachuelo (S-40). She has a conventional power plant but the first nuclear variant, Álvaro Alberto, is already under construction. Brazilian Navy

Forbes: Nuclear Submarine Game Changer: New Countries To Go Atomic

Today the number of countries operating nuclear-powered submarines is the same as it was 30 years ago at the end of the Cold War. That looks set to change with more navies thinking nuclear!

When, on January 17 1955, the captain of USS Nautilus reported "Underway on nuclear power" it ushered in a new era of submarine warfare. In fact it was such a game changer that it reset naval warfare generally. Nuclear powered submarines were faster, did not need to surface during a mission and could run until their crew’s stores run out. Yet despite the disruptive nature of nuclear-powered submarines, few navies could follow the U.S. Navy into this new era. Russia, Britain, France and China built them, and India joined the ranks in the late 1980s by leasing a Russian boat.

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WNU Editor: They are not cheap to build or maintain.