Almirante Karam submarine completes first static immersion test

The Brazilian Navy's Almirante Karam (S43) submarine, the fourth vessel of the Riachuelo class, successfully completed its first static immersion test in Sepetiba Bay, near the Itaguaí Naval Complex in Rio de Janeiro.

During the test, conducted at a depth of 14.5 meters without using diesel-electric propulsion, engineers and military personnel monitored the hull's watertightness, stability, and response to weight distribution and inclination. The procedure involved opening ballast tank vents to allow seawater in, verifying the design's real-world buoyancy and equilibrium predictions.

Following this successful milestone, the submarine will proceed to more complex stages, including dynamic immersion and underwater navigation tests. The Almirante Karam is expected to be fully integrated into the Brazilian Navy during the second half of 2027.