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Brazil to ditch Aircraft Carrier - To focus on Submarine fleet

Hassan Guy

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According to Brazilian daily newspaper Estado, the Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil) has just decided to decommission its sole aircraft carrier Sao Paulo (hull number A12) acquired from France in 2000. Brazil has long been considering a modernization plan for the aircraft carrier with French naval shipbuilding group DCNS, but according to Estado, "modernization costs were considered excessive by the admiralty".
upload_2017-2-15_18-1-10.png

Modernization plans included the replacement of the entire propulsion system, catapults and combat system. According to Estado, the modernization would have cost in excess of 1 Billion Brazilian Reals ($324 Million USD approx.).

The decommissioning process is set to begin immediately and will only be completed by 2020. The three-step procedure would require 10 years of work. The remaining A-4 Skyhawk fighters of the Sao Paulo airwing will continue to operate from the Sao Pedro da Aldeia Base. The final fate of A-12 is not set yet. The Minas Gerais, an aircraft carrier that preceded São Paulo, was eventually sold as scrap on the international market.
upload_2017-2-15_18-1-34.png

Sao Paulo is a Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier that was first commissioned in 1963 by the French Navy asFoch and was transferred in 2000 to Brazil, where she became the new flagship of the Brazilian Navy. The vessel displaces 32,800 tons, has a length of 265 meters and a crew of 1,920 sailors. It is able to accommodate 39 aircraft: 22 jets and 17 helicopters. In Brazilian Navy service these were: A-4KU Skyhawks, AS 532 SC Cougars, HB 350 & HB.355 Ecureuils, and SH-3 Sea Kings.

Between 2005 and 2010 the carrier underwent a modernization program. The upgrade included inspection and repair of the steam turbines; maintenance of the surface condensers; retubing of boilers; repair of two high-pressure compressors; revision of the AC electrical generator; purchase of spare parts; maintenance of pumps, valves, and structural items; addition of two API oil-water separators; installation of two water cooling units; upgrade of the chemical oxygen generator; repair and treatment of oil tanks; substitution of the Naval Tactical Data System; installation of a closed-circuit television system; installation of an IFF transponder; installation of a MAGE system (ESM); flight deck inspection, repair, and painting; upgrade of the Optical Landing System processing unit; and revision of the aircraft catapults.

However, deficiencies in the engines, the propulsion shaft and the catapults were still recuring and Sao Paulo rarely went to sea since 2012.

The new focus of the Brazilian Navy is set to be its submarine programme to be built locally in partnership with DCNS.

Saab was pitching its Sea Gripen to Brazil as a replacement for the A-4 Skyhawks. With the decommissioning of Sao Paulo, it seems like the only potential customer for Sea Gripen would be the Indian Navy.
http://www.navyrecognition.com/inde...r-sao-paulo-prepares-for-decommissioning.html
 
According to Brazilian daily newspaper Estado, the Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil) has just decided to decommission its sole aircraft carrier Sao Paulo (hull number A12) acquired from France in 2000. Brazil has long been considering a modernization plan for the aircraft carrier with French naval shipbuilding group DCNS, but according to Estado, "modernization costs were considered excessive by the admiralty".
View attachment 377346
Modernization plans included the replacement of the entire propulsion system, catapults and combat system. According to Estado, the modernization would have cost in excess of 1 Billion Brazilian Reals ($324 Million USD approx.).

The decommissioning process is set to begin immediately and will only be completed by 2020. The three-step procedure would require 10 years of work. The remaining A-4 Skyhawk fighters of the Sao Paulo airwing will continue to operate from the Sao Pedro da Aldeia Base. The final fate of A-12 is not set yet. The Minas Gerais, an aircraft carrier that preceded São Paulo, was eventually sold as scrap on the international market.
View attachment 377347
Sao Paulo is a Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier that was first commissioned in 1963 by the French Navy asFoch and was transferred in 2000 to Brazil, where she became the new flagship of the Brazilian Navy. The vessel displaces 32,800 tons, has a length of 265 meters and a crew of 1,920 sailors. It is able to accommodate 39 aircraft: 22 jets and 17 helicopters. In Brazilian Navy service these were: A-4KU Skyhawks, AS 532 SC Cougars, HB 350 & HB.355 Ecureuils, and SH-3 Sea Kings.

Between 2005 and 2010 the carrier underwent a modernization program. The upgrade included inspection and repair of the steam turbines; maintenance of the surface condensers; retubing of boilers; repair of two high-pressure compressors; revision of the AC electrical generator; purchase of spare parts; maintenance of pumps, valves, and structural items; addition of two API oil-water separators; installation of two water cooling units; upgrade of the chemical oxygen generator; repair and treatment of oil tanks; substitution of the Naval Tactical Data System; installation of a closed-circuit television system; installation of an IFF transponder; installation of a MAGE system (ESM); flight deck inspection, repair, and painting; upgrade of the Optical Landing System processing unit; and revision of the aircraft catapults.

However, deficiencies in the engines, the propulsion shaft and the catapults were still recuring and Sao Paulo rarely went to sea since 2012.

The new focus of the Brazilian Navy is set to be its submarine programme to be built locally in partnership with DCNS.

Saab was pitching its Sea Gripen to Brazil as a replacement for the A-4 Skyhawks. With the decommissioning of Sao Paulo, it seems like the only potential customer for Sea Gripen would be the Indian Navy.
http://www.navyrecognition.com/inde...r-sao-paulo-prepares-for-decommissioning.html

It's approaching 54 years...in the salt water. I'm sure the bilge is a wreck.
 
At this stage of economy they should retire it.this carrier did not a descent planes on it.

@Hassan Guy pakistan should buy it.
Ur wish of ac will come true.:p:
 
At this stage of economy they should retire it.this carrier did not a descent planes on it.

@Hassan Guy pakistan should buy it.
Ur wish of ac will come true.:p:

:D Just like the last retired AC Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo will probably be bought by India too, but We'll defffo be putting up a bid to buy it as well ! :D
 
It's approaching 54 years...in the salt water. I'm sure the bilge is a wreck.

Not if it's well maintained. The USS Enterprise was in service for 50 years and was deployed for a greater fraction of its service life. Some of the Iowa class battleships were in service for equally long periods.

Scrapping the carrier is a pragmatic move by Brazil IMO - the Indian navy should get around it's own obsession with carriers - that money would be better served elsewhere.
 

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