EMGEPRON

Back in the early 1970s, in the context of the Cold War, The Brazilian Navy (BN) signed the contract of the ‘Niteroi’ Class Frigates, ships that would place Brazil among the users of the ‘state of the art’ naval weapons systems, as well as bring to the country modern shipbuilding processes and capability.

The contract consisted of six Frigates, four built in the United Kingdom and two in Brazil. It shifted the Brazilian fleet status from analogic towards digital technology, following its naval authorities’ strategic vision.

The possibility of a naval power imbalance in the region generated interest from surrounding countries. On the other hand, the BN took it as an opportunity to leverage the Brazilian shipbuilding industry and trigger its ambitious project for a national design Corvette with a high level of local content, the ‘Inhauma’ Class.

However, by the beginning of the 1980s, Brazil was hit by a profound economic crisis and hyperinflation, which compromised its strategy. Thus, the Navy got a visionary initiative of creating a state-owned company focused on undertaking its strategic projects, developing the Defence Industrial Base, and providing defence and naval assets acquisitions and its upkeep.

In this context, EMGEPRON (an acronym of its full Portuguese name for Naval Projects Management Company) was founded. A federal budget non-dependent state company with the Brazilian Federal Government as its sole shareholder, linked to the former Ministry of Navy.

Since its early days, EMGEPRON has had a relevant participation in the ‘Inhauma’ Class Program. In addition, in 1985, the Company had its first exportation to Paraguay with the Riverine Patrol Ship ´Itaipu’ built in Brazil, a customised ´Roraima´ class. In 2004, the company was awarded a contract from Namibia Navy to deliver one 200-ton Coastal Patrol Ship and two Coastal Fast Patrol Crafts, all built in Brazil.

Since then, the EMGEPRON has received many other contracts from the Brazilian Navy, including the midlife update of the ‘Niteroi’ Class Frigates and the Corvette ‘Barroso’ systems integration. Moreover, in 1996, the Company got a contract from the Brazilian Navy to provide full management of its ammunition factory, which was a unique opportunity to expand the company’s footprint on the globe.

In 2017, EMGEPRON was capitalised with US$ 2.3 billion to obtain new Frigates for the Brazilian Navy as part of its Strategic Fleet Modernisation Plan. Two years later, the ‘Tamandare’ Class contract was signed with ‘Aguas Azuis,’ a joint venture formed by Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), EMBRAER, and Atech. During the Program, TKMS acquired a shipyard in the Brazilian State of Santa Catarina called South Brazil Thyssenkrupp Shipyard (TKEBS).

The program brought new perspectives to the Brazilian Shipbuilding Industry and its manufacturing processes, such as the paperless engineering information management and the digital twin concept, providing better logistic support performance along the ships’ life span.

Furthermore, the investments in the program will certainly expand the national supply chain seeking the contract’s local content ambitious requirements, potentially placing Brazil as an alternative solution for the post-pandemic global supply chain disruption.

As part of a national policy focused on the navy modernisation and the Brazilian Industry expansion, the program should have Frigates built in Brazil. In addition, it established important offset clauses, such as a high index level of local content and Transfer of Technology (ToT). Consequently, it will provide innovation and digital transformation to the shipbuilding industry as well as its capability to deliver and manage complex systems.

The ToT clause may be observed in the Frigate Combat Management System (CMS) and Integrated Platform Management System (IPMS), which are provided by Atlas/TKMS to the Brazilian Navy and Atech as recipients, bringing new opportunities for the Brazilian Shipbuilding and Defence Industry.

Afterwards, EMGEPRON got another contract for the Brazilian Navy Antarctic Support Ship. The contract was signed with ‘Polar One,’ a joint venture formed by Singapore Sembcorp Marine and Jurong Aracruz shipyard, which awarded the procurement process.

“We are also developing some innovation initiatives seeking new solutions for the Defence Market, such as EMGEPRON design for an indigenous 500-ton Ocean Patrol Vessel (OPV) that achieved international certification by RINA,” says VAdm (Rtd) Edesio Teixeira Lima Junior, President and CEO of EMGEPRON.

Additionally, it is also investing in Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV) and Maritime Traffic Control and Local Port Control Systems to provide modern solutions for Maritime Security and Safety.

The historical overview of the company over the last 40 years is solid evidence of its capability for planning, structuring, and managing complex defence and technological projects employing the best and most modern practices.