Brazil's Increased Military Spending

By Jeff Gilmour, 15 September 2026

In the 1970s, apparently Brazil launched and abandoned at least three warship programs.^[1] In April this year, however, it commissioned a new frigate, Tamandare, the first of four ships to be built in Brazil. The construction of a further batch of four has also been provisionally agreed to.

            Thyssen Krupp Marine systems (TKMS), the same German company selected to build Canada’s 12 submarines, has agreed to work with Embraer, a Brazilian multinational aerospace corporation, to build the ships in Itajai, in the southern state of Santa Clarina. As in Canada, the project is designed to encourage domestic supply chains and create a skilled local work force. Similar to Canada, it begins with an effort by Brazil to increase its defence capability, as its defence share of GDP is now only 1.1%.

            The country spent $24B on its armed forces last year. As well as its plan to build new frigates, it also has plans to obtain nuclear-powered submarines. In March the country unveiled the first fighter jet assembled in Brazil, a Gripen built in partnership with Sweden’s Saab.

            With the United States adopting a more threatening posture in South America, as we have seen in its actions in Venezuela, more and more South American countries are increasing their defence spending with countries outside the United States. Therefore, the Brazilian government is eager to build more military and naval hardware at home to boost and enhance its industrial base.

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