[Perdogg]

Brazil has always wanted a nuclear weapon despite public claims. I believe if they have not already got one, they are pretty close.

[BenLurkin]

Who is a threat to Brazil? Argentina? Venezuela?

[HereInTheHeartland]

“select group of countries that have nuclear-powered submarines”

Free Republic should have it’s own nuclear powered submarine.

[Gay State Conservative]

It's only a matter of time until Brazil...a true Third World country...has a Commandante Chavez of her own.Add nuclear subs to that...

[DemforBush]

Well, based on what I know of nuclear subs - which is precious little - this sounds more like a “bragging rights” project for Brazil than maybe the best military policy.

If their objective is coastal defense and to protect their oil rigs, I would think purchasing late model diesel-electric boats would be a sounder policy. You don’t need the around-the-world range of a nuke if you’re staying close to home. I would think you could also afford to buy several of them for the price of one nuc, with lower maintenance and operating costs as well.

Again, though, that’s just my armchair admiral-ing. Feel free to correct me if I’m off base here, folks.

[Strategerist]

The Brazilian nuclear weapons program was abandoned a long time ago.