US Coast Guard prepares for fleet expansions

The US Coast Guard (USCG) recently completed contract actions aimed at accelerating the delivery of new MH-60 medium-range recovery helicopters and HC-130J long-range surveillance aircraft and increasing the mission capabilities of the expanded aviation fleet.

The USCG placed a US$14.3 million order for delivery of 13 General Electric T700 engines for its MH-60 helicopter fleet, and later contracted L3Harris to deliver three AN/APY-11 multi-mode radar systems, valued at $13.9 million, to be installed on future HC-130Js during the Minotaur missionization process.

Both orders were made possible due to investments in the USCG fleet made by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).

The T700 engines are among the long lead-time components needed to grow the USCG’s MH-60 fleet and expedite transition of several air stations from the MH-65E (Dolphin) to the MH-60 (Jayhawk). The MH-60’s range, speed, payload, and avionics and sensors suite make it a capable platform for all 11 USCG missions. The aircraft’s ability to locate, identify, and track surface targets day or night makes it a valuable search and rescue (SAR) and law enforcement asset. Transition of air stations is necessary to sustain rotary-wing capability as the MH-65E continues to face supportability issues driven by a diminishing supply base for an out-of-production aircraft.

The AN/APY-11 radar system was chosen as the optimal multi-mode radar to enhance operational effectiveness as part of the Minotaur mission system suite. The Minotaur mission system enables the collection and correlation of sensor and track data, which is used to conduct drug and alien interdictions, SAR, and other statutory missions.

The USCG’s long-range surveillance fleet is a proven asset vital to control, secure, and defend the US border and maritime approaches, facilitate commerce vital to economic prosperity, and respond to crises and contingencies. The USCG HC-130J fleet is the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) airlift asset and can provide critical support to DHS partners in response to national events as well as logistical support during routine operations.

The OBBBA includes more than $3.3 billion to expand the USCG’s HC-130J and MH-60 fleets. Nearly $2.3 billion is for the production and fielding of new MH-60 aircraft and delivery of multiple simulators. Approximately $1.1 billion is for production and missionization of six additional HC-130J aircraft, along with the associated spare parts and the service’s first HC-130J simulator.

Acron Aviation has recently been awarded a five-year contract by the USCG to supply its Electronic Standby Instrument System displays.