July 28, 2017 —
CGNR 2307 served as a prototype aircraft for the integration of the Minotaur mission system on the HC-144B Ocean Sentry fleet. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
The Coast Guard transferred the HC-144 Ocean Sentry medium range surveillance aircraft that has served as a prototype for HC-144 Minotaur integration to Aviation Training Center Mobile, Alabama, today.
Minotaur is mission system architecture that incorporates the sensors; radar; and remaining command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment that enables aircrews to gather and process surveillance information for transmission to shore and surface operators. Minotaur is government-owned and -operated across multiple Defense and Homeland Security department platforms.
The service is integrating the Minotaur mission system across its new fixed-wing surveillance aircraft and delivered the Minotaur prototype HC-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft to Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in June.
The HC-144B Minotaur prototype, CGNR 2307, was also the prototype for the Ocean Sentry Refresh project, through which the Coast Guard is upgrading the flight management systems on its HC-144A aircraft. Each aircraft is redesignated as an HC-144B following the upgrades. A second HC-144B, CGNR 2306, has also been outfitted with Minotaur.
The Minotaur production line transferred from Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, to the Aviation Logistics Center (ALC) in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, earlier this month. The first two HC-144 aircraft to undergo Minotaur modifications at the ALC will have received Ocean Sentry Refresh upgrades separately. The Coast Guard will combine Minotaur and Ocean Sentry Refresh modifications into one conversion process in fiscal year 2018.
For more information: Medium Range Surveillance Aircraft program page