Brazil to build five submarines with France help

SAO PAULO - Brazil will build five submarines in collaboration with France to protect its vast off shore oil reserves in the Amazon region, a media report said Sunday.

The Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper said President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has already approved the submarine project prepared by the defence ministry.

Brazil will also build a nuclear submarine as part of the project, it said.

The ministry also plans to set up of a joint general staff comprising personnel from the army, navy and the air force to protect the region. The proposal, which is already cleared by the president, will now be submitted to the Congress.

The government has invested nearly $30 billion to boost its defence industry.

–EFE