Brazilian Navy

The Brazilian Navy (Portuguese: Marinha do Brasil, IPA: [maˈɾĩj̃ɐ du bɾaˈziw], MB) is the naval and coast guard service branch of Brazil's Armed Forces as well as its maritime authority. It has defense, management and constabulary roles in Brazilian jurisdictional waters and broader missions in the South Atlantic. Its naval, aviation and marine assets are spread between a combat Fleet (the Esquadra) based at Rio de Janeiro state and auxiliary and patrol assets along the coast and the Amazon and Platine basins.

The 19th century Imperial navy, organized from a section of the Portuguese Navy and influenced by the Royal Navy, was key to the Brazilian state's consolidation and foreign policy in the Platine region. By 1870, it was the world's fifth largest navy. However, the late century Republican coup and naval revolts downgraded its position relative to the Army. Its main rival was still the Argentine Navy, but German submarines were the enemy in both world wars. The Cold War fleet was an anti-submarine force under strong influence from the United States Navy until it sought greater independence and diversified capabilities. Over its history, its largest ships were the Minas Gerais-class battleships and the aircraft carriers Minas Gerais and São Paulo.

Historical fleet composition mixes imports from the United States and Western Europe with the work of local shipyards. The current fleet can be classed as a green-water navy, with some limited power projection capability. It has a flagship helicopter carrier, the Atlântico (A-140), frigates, diesel-electric submarines, landing ships, an expeditionary brigade of marines and aviation squadrons (mostly helicopters). Long-term ambitions include a nuclear submarine.

Within Brazilian society, the Navy seeks attention and funding by attempting to include maritime spaces, which it calls the "Blue Amazon", within national identity. Compared to the Army, it has a greater focus on external defense and a much lower dependence on conscription. Relations between officers and enlisted men were the point of two seamen's mutinies in 1910 and 1964. Contacts are made with the scientific community, among them the nuclear and antarctic programas, continental shelf delimitation and occupation of the Trindade and Saint Peter and Saint Paul archipelagoes to include them in the exclusive economic zone.