[11][7] The project was initiated in 2010 with the Madeira Island base in Rio de Janeiro as the submarine development and manufacturing point.

In 2018, more than 400 Brazilian engineers worked only on the nuclear submarine project staff, originally formed by the group that received training in France.

[13][14] The conventional Brazilian boats are larger in length, tonnage and cargo capacity compared to the French Scorpène class they are derived from.

[17] The advantages of an SSN over a conventionally powered SSK are much longer endurance (a nuclear submarine can stay submerged for months and does not need refueling), and higher speed.

Brazil – while not a major producer of uranium – has large resources of thorium which could in the future provide a domestic source of energy.