Completing the value of the Sao Paulo is its air arm of which constitutes some 39 total fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Brazil netted itself an order of ex-Kuwaiti, American-originated Douglas A-4 Skyhawk fighter-bombers in 1998 (prior to procurement of the carrier itself) and 22 of these aircraft make up the onboard fixed-wing collection. Up to seventeen helicopters are carried and these are an assortment of American and French types including the Aerospatiale AS532 Cougar and Sikorsky Sh-3 Sea King models. The Sao Paulo's deck is arranged in a traditional CATOBAR ("Catapult-Assisted Take-Off, Barrier-Arrested Recovery") configuration.
Prior to becoming the Sao Paulo, the vessel (as the French Navy "Foch") was modernized during the span of 1980 to 1981 in an effort to support Dassault Super Etendard French naval fighters. In 1985, the whole Clemenceau-class (numbering two) was again refitted and granted use of the Crotale missile system which took the place of the some of the original 100mm turrets. In her early-going, the now-renamed Sao Paulo participated in several global exercises that helped the vessel and crew push the vessel through her paces. Her deck also served as a training ground for Argentine Naval aviators instructed in operating ex-French Dassault Etendard fighters as well as ex-American Grumman S-2 Tracker platforms. For the Brazilian Navy, Sao Paulo also serves as an active instructional vessel dealing in both fixed-wing and rotary-wing training.
Sao Paulo was modernized throughout the latter half of the 2000s as was some of her air arm. As it stands, the Brazilian Navy will continue to support the Sao Paulo and her air group will be further modernized with the arrival of new American Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk naval helicopters, considerably broadening the vessel's anti-ship/anti-submarine capabilities for the foreseeable future. The Sao Paulo remains a critical cog to Brazilian Navy operations in the region, both for stability and in power projection across Atlantic-facing South American and Latin American waters. For any modern naval power, the aircraft carrier is the heart and soul of the fleet and to the British Navy, this is no exception.
December 2017 - The Brazilian Navy has announced that the Sao Paulo will be decommissioned rather than affect expensive repairs to her design. She will be stripped of her usefulness before being scrapped - leaving the Brazilian Navy without its flagship carrier. its air wing is expected to operate from land bases for the foreseeable future.
Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.