March 30, 2017 —
CGNR 2008 is the first HC-130J long range surveillance aircraft being retrofitted with the Minotaur mission system suite at L3 Technologies’ facility in Waco, Texas. The next aircraft to be retrofitted will be one of the six operating out of Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, with the legacy mission system suite. Photo courtesy of L3 Technologies.
The Coast Guard on March 24 awarded an option worth approximately $2.3 million to the L3 Technologies Inc. Integrated Systems Platform Integration Division in Waco, Texas, for Minotaur missionization of one HC-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft outfitted with the legacy mission system suite.
The Minotaur mission system suite is used on multiple platforms across the departments of Defense and Homeland Security. Missionization involves modifying the aircraft to incorporate the radar; sensors; and remaining command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment that allows aircrews to gather and process surveillance information for transmission to shore and surface operators.
The first aircraft to undergo a retrofit was the Minotaur mission system suite prototype, CGNR 2003, which is conducting performance testing and is scheduled for delivery this summer. CGNR 2008 is the first aircraft being retrofitted in Waco under an earlier option on the contract; Minotaur missionization work began on the aircraft in January and is planned for completion later this year.
The aircraft covered in this option will enter the retrofit process later this year, with delivery scheduled for 2018. The Minotaur retrofit will take place on one of the six aircraft currently operating out of Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, with the legacy mission system suite.
Two aircraft besides CGNR 2008 are also undergoing Minotaur missionization in Waco; these entered the process in their baseline configuration.
For more information: HC-130J Long Range Surveillance Aircraft Program page