USS São Paulo
The USS São Paulo (NCC-75633) was a Defiant-class Federation starship launched from the Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards in late 2375 on stardate 52889.3, in the final weeks of the Dominion War. As one of the first new starships launched from Federation shipyards after the disastrous Second Battle of Chin'toka, the São Paulo was immediately assigned to the front lines at Deep Space 9 as a replacement for the USS Defiant. The São Paulo was equipped with redesigned deflector shield generators to counteract the Breen energy dampening weapon, which had decimated the allied fleet at Chin'toka. Upon taking command of the São Paulo on stardate 52891.3, Captain Benjamin Sisko received a special dispensation from the Chief of Starfleet Operations to change the vessel's name to USS Defiant.