France may aid Brazil on nuclear sub

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to sign an arms deal during his upcoming visit to Brazil that could help this country build Latin America’s first nuclear-propelled submarine, the government’s official news agency said Saturday.

The French president is scheduled to arrive in Rio de Janeiro on Monday for a Brazil-European Union summit. He is the current president of the European Union’s council.

Agencia Brasil said Sarkozy and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva would sign an agreement after the summit that includes the transfer of French technology for Brazil to build four conventional submarines, as well as the hull for “Brazil’s first nuclear submarine.”

France promised this year to help Brazil build the Scorpene attack submarine, a conventional diesel-powered vessel that Brazilian officials hope would help them develop Latin America’s first nuclear-propelled submarine. They said it would protect Brazil’s large offshore oil reserves and exploration platforms.

Brazil began a formal program to develop a nuclear submarine in 1979, and Silva last year announced $540 million in new funding for it and for uranium enrichment efforts.

The nation has five conventionally powered submarines.

Agencia Brasil said that another likely agreement would call for the construction of 50 EC 725 Cougar helicopters by Brazilian firm Helibras.