Inhaúma-class

The Brazilian Naval Design Office, with assistance from the West German company Marine Technik, developed the Inhaúma-class corvettes. Originally intended as a series of 12 to 16 small frigates, the program was reduced to five vessels due to economic constraints. Construction took place at the Arsenal de Marinha in Rio de Janeiro and the Verolme shipyard. When Verolme filed for bankruptcy in 1991, the Arsenal de Marinha completed the remaining unfinished hulls. An additional ship, Barroso, was ordered as a modified subclass in 1994.

The vessels employ a combined diesel or gas (CODOG) propulsion system with a General Electric gas turbine and MTU diesel engines turning two shafts. The design incorporates a stern helicopter pad for Westland Super Lynx operations. Sensors include surface search, navigational, and fire control radars, as well as sonar. For electronic countermeasures, the ships are equipped with radar intercept and jammer systems and chaff launchers. The armament consists of Exocet surface-to-surface missiles, a Mark 8 main gun, Bofors anti-aircraft guns, and torpedo tubes for Mark 46 torpedoes. During development, a close-in weapon system was omitted to maintain stability. The Barroso subclass features a longer hull to improve seakeeping and engine room volume, and it is equipped with different radar and sonar suites along with a Sea Trinity close-in weapon system.

The first vessel entered service in 1989, and the original group of four was completed by 1994. The Barroso was commissioned in 2008. The class underwent modernization in late 2008. Decommissioning began in 2015, and three ships have since been retired. Two of the retired vessels were used as targets and sunk during naval exercises in the Atlantic Ocean. The original Inhaúma class left service with the decommissioning of Júlio de Noronha in June 2026, leaving only the improved Barroso in commission.