michaelharadon wrote:
I'm curious as to what Brazil feels it is accomplishing with an aircraft carrier and planes that were designed in the 50's. Who sold them the carrier?
Thanks for any replies!
Look at it this way - the Stoofs are for AEW, COD/Refueling and ASW/Patrol - so long as the basic airframe is sound the engines and mission systems can be upgraded out the wazoo. Putting Searchwater into the AEW variant creates a capability superior to all the navies flying Sea King or other helo-based AEWs for instance.
Where Brazil is currently lacking is with fixed wing counter-air and strike. The A-4 "Fighting Hawks" they have are ok (remember, these are what New Zealand was using until recently as the core of their air force), but there's been talk about building navalized Gripens to fill the role.
If that happens, Brazil will have the third best carrier capability in the world, after the US and France but still better than the Russians (ship limitations as well as AEW and refueling) and all the Harrier-carrier navies. At least until the STOVL F-35 hits the various fleets (RN, Spain, Italy). It'll still remain the second-best regionally (assuming that the USN can get a deck or two down there in a pinch) for a long time to come.
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
They were retired from the USN in 1988! But looks like they will be converted to turboprop. 
AMARC still has a ton of S-2/C-1 type planes. 
