The Inhaúma Class corvette

Corvette

A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...

s are four escort vessels operated by the Brazilian Navy

Brazilian Navy

The Brazilian Navy is a branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces responsible for conducting naval operations. It is the largest navy in Latin America...

. These ships were built in Brazil and designed with assistance from the German company Marine Technik. It was originally planned to build 12 to 16 ships but the economic situation in Brazil did not permit this and only four vessels were built. The programme was considerably delayed due to funding issues and the Brazilian Verolme yard's insolvency in 1991 which forced V32 and V33 to be completed by Arsenal da Marinha.

The ships were fitted with a Ferranti

Ferranti

Ferranti or Ferranti International plc was a UK electrical engineering and equipment firm that operated for over a century from 1885 until it went bankrupt in 1993. Known primarily for defence electronics, the Company was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but ceased trading in 1993.The...

CAAIS 450 (Computer Aided Action Information System) combat data system and a SAAB EOS-400 fire control system. Further vessels were planned to have indigenous Brazilian missiles but this was shelved. Conway's reports the ships as being top-heavy.

Ships

All ships were completed by the Arsenal da Marinha, Rio de Janeiro, and are currently (2006) in service

Pennant number	Ship	Launched	Commissioned	Status
V30	Inhaúma	13 December 1986	12 December 1989	In service
V31	Jaceguai	8 June 1987	2 April 1991	In service
V32	Júlio de Noronha	15 December 1989	7 October 1992	In service
V33	Frontin	6 February 1992	March 1994	In service