Brazilian Navy NAM Atlântico A140 is now a multipurpose aircraft carrier.

According to information published by the Defesa Aerea Naval website on November 26, 2020, the Brazilian navy has reclassified its PHM Atlântico (A140) landing platform helicopter ship as a multipurpose aircraft carrier under the name of NAM Atlântico. The ship is now able to operate with fixed-wing medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles as well as crewed tiltrotor VTOL aircraft.
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NAM Atlântico A140 multipurpose aircraft carrier of Brazilian navy. (Picture source Brazilian navy)

This information has been confirmed with a Tweet released by the Brazilian Navy on November 26, 2020, announcing the change of the name from a multipurpose helicopter carrier to a multipurpose aircraft carrier. According to the Brazilian Navy, the ship has been modernized to accommodate and operate on its deck with remotely piloted aircraft as well as with turboprop aircraft for vertical landing.

The NAM (Navio Aeródromo Multipropósito - multipurpose aircraft carrier) Atlântico (A140) (previously PHM (Porta-Helicópteros Multipropósito -multipurpose helicopter carrier) Atlântico (A140) is a landing platform helicopter ship and the current flagship of the Brazilian Navy. Originally constructed in the United Kingdom for service with the Royal Navy, she was commissioned on 30 September 1998 as HMS Ocean, serving until being decommissioned on 27 March 2018, and then commissioned into service with Brazil in June the same year.

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 defense systems and 7.62 mm M134 machine guns were removed from the ship before its transfer to Brazil. The ship displaces 21,578 tones, with a length of 203.4 m, a beam of 35 m, and a draught of 6.5 m.

The PHM Atlântico was designed to operate up to seven aircraft on deck and 12 more in its hangar including EC725 Caracal, S-70B Seahawk, and AS350 Ecureuil. She can transport 500 to 800 Marines and land them by heli-transport or by sea, thanks to its four landing craft, from a distance of up to 200 miles from the coast (about 321 km).

The NAM Atlântico is powered by two Crossley Pielstick 16 PC2.6 V 200 medium-speed diesel engines, rated at 23,904hp, with two independent shafts and a five-bladed fixed-pitch propeller. The ship can reach a cruise speed of 10 (12 mph; 19 km/h) knots and a top speed of 18 knots (21 mph; 33 km/h) with a maximum cruising range of 8,000 miles (13,000 km).