The São Paulo at sea. Brazilian Navy
Warzone/The Drive: Brazil's Aircraft Carrier To Be Auctioned Off After Years Of Disappointment
An effort is underway to try to turn the ship into a museum, while the fate of the Brazilian Navy's carrier-based Skyhawk jets is now in question.
Brazil's Ministry of Defense has reportedly begun the process of auctioning off its retired aircraft carrier, the ex-São Paulo, with bids starting at $1.275 million, roughly a tenth of what the country paid to buy the ship from France nearly two decades ago. The Brazilians formally decided to decommission the flattop two years ago, which has left the fate of the country's AF-1 Skyhawk carrier-based combat jets in limbo ever since.
The Brazilians officially put the carrier up for sale on Sept. 23, 2019, according to Airway1. Originally commissioned in the French Navy as the Foch in 1963, she was the second of two Clemenceau class aircraft carriers and remained in service in France until 2000. Brazil purchased the ship that same year for the bargain price of $12 million. At the time of São Paulo's retirement, there were only two other countries in the world, the United States and France, still operating catapult-assisted takeoff and barrier assisted recovery (CATOBAR) configured aircraft carriers.
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Update: Brazil Is Selling Its Only Aircraft Carrier For Just $1.2 Million (Zero Hedge).
WNU Editor: The only takers will be the scrap dealers.