On November 26, the Brazilian Navy has reclassified its PHM (Porta-Helicópteros Multipropósito -multipurpose helicopter carrier) Atlântico (A140) landing platform helicopter ship as a multipurpose aircraft carrier under the name of NAM (Navio Aeródromo Multipropósito – multipurpose aircraft carrier) Atlântico. The ship has been modernized to accommodate and operate on its deck with fixed-wing medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles as well as with tiltrotor VTOL aircraft for vertical landing.
NAM Atlântico (A140) is an aircraft carrier and current flagship of the Brazilian Navy. Originally constructed in the United Kingdom for service with the Royal Navy as landing platform helicopter, she was commissioned on 30 September 1998 as HMS Ocean, serving until being decommissioned on 27 March 2018. The Brazilian Navy confirmed the purchase of the ship for £84.6 million, equivalent to R$359.5M and USD $113.2M. The Brazilian Navy commissioned the multi-purpose helicopter carrier Atlântico (A140) on 29 June 2018 in the United Kingdom.
The helicopter carrier package for Brazil includes an Artisan 3D search radar, KH1007 surface surveillance radar system, four 30 mm DS30M Mk 2 remote weapon systems and four Mk 5B landing craft. However, the three original 20 mm Mk 15 Block 1B Phalanx close-in weapon systems, the torpedo defence systems and 7.62 mm M134 machine guns were removed from the ship before its transfer to Brazil. The ship displaces 21,578 tonnes, is 203.43 m long and has a range of 8,000 n miles. The ship underwent maintenance work by Babcock and BAE Systems in February.
