US Coast Guard takes delivery of new HC-130J surveillance aircraft

February 5, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

The US Coast Guard is completing final delivery activities this week for its 18th fully missionized HC-130J long-range surveillance aircraft, designated CGNR 2018, at L3Harris Integrated Mission Systems in Waco, Texas.

The US Coast Guard received $1.142 billion in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) for procurement and acquisition of fixed-wing aircraft, including HC-130Js. The investment, combined with the early delivery of CGNR 2018, enables the long-range surveillance fleet to expand operations.

Including funds from OBBBA, the US Coast Guard has appropriations for a total of 25 HC-130J aircraft, one HC-130J simulator, initial spare parts inventory and site activation for two additional air stations.

L3Harris executes missionization of the baseline C-130J aircraft, integrating the Minotaur mission system suite, coast guard-specific multi-mode radar, sensors, and communication systems.

Additional capabilities, including enhanced approach and landing systems, expanded diagnostics, and civil GPS, were integrated as part of a Block Upgrade 8.1 installation.

Three Coast Guard air stations currently operate the HC-130J: Elizabeth City, North Carolina; Kodiak, Alaska; and Barbers Point, Hawaii. The addition of CGNR 2018 marks a step toward expanding HC-130J operations to two additional air stations, beginning with Sacramento later this year.

The HC-130J fleet serves as an on-scene command and control platform or surveillance platform, with the means to detect, classify and identify objects and share information with operational forces. The aircraft has a cruise speed of 320 knots, a range of 4,900 nautical miles and an endurance of more than 20 hours.

The missionized HC-130J enables the US Coast Guard to control, secure and defend the US border and maritime approaches, facilitate commerce and respond to crises or contingencies.