The US Coast Guard (USCG) has accepted delivery of its 17th fully missionized HC-130J long-range surveillance aircraft, CGNR 2017.
As informed, the aircraft was delivered to the coast guard in its baseline configuration in August 2023. It was inducted into the missionization process at L3Harris in Waco, Texas, in November 2023.
According to the officials, missionization includes integrating Minotaur mission system software as well as coast guard-specific integrated radar, sensors, and communication systems.
Additional capabilities, including enhanced approach and landing systems, expanded diagnostics, and civil GPS, some of which are required by the Federal Aviation Administration to access airspace and airports, were integrated as part of a Block Upgrade 8.1 installation.
The aircraft is currently stationed at Air Station Elizabeth City in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Air Stations Elizabeth City, Kodiak, Alaska, and Barbers Point, Hawaii, are outfitted with HC-130Js.
Two additional C-130Js are currently under production at Lockheed Martin in Marietta, Georgia.
The service’s Super Hercules aircraft carry out many US Coast Guard missions, including search and rescue, drug and migrant interdiction, cargo and personnel transport, and maritime stewardship. They also provide support to Department of Homeland Security partners.
The aircraft can serve as a command and control or surveillance platform capable of identifying and classifying objects and sharing that information with operational forces.
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