March 11, 2022 —
Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, is one of two air stations that has already transitioned to the HC-130J and a third, Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, is in process. The Coast Guard plans to outfit two additional air stations with missionized HC-130Js. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
The Coast Guard released a request for proposal (RFP) March 4 for the missionization of up to six C-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft. The RFP is available here.
Proposals are due by 4 p.m. (EDT) April 4, 2022.
The Coast Guard plans to award a firm fixed price contract for production, installation and delivery of the Minotaur mission system along with a Block 8.1 upgrade on one C-130J aircraft, the 17th in the fleet. The contract will also include options for block upgrade and missionization of aircraft 18 and missionization of aircraft 19-22, which will already have the Block 8.1 upgrade installed.
Minotaur incorporates sensors; radar; and command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment necessary to carry out Coast Guard missions and offers significant increases in processing speed and memory capacity.
The Block 8.1 upgrade adds new and advanced capabilities, including enhanced inter-communication system, enhanced approach and landing systems, expanded diagnostics, civil GPS and additional covert lighting.
The HC-130J carries out many Coast Guard missions, including search and rescue, drug and migrant interdiction, cargo and personnel transport and maritime stewardship. The aircraft is capable of serving as an on-scene command and control platform or as a surveillance platform with the means to detect, classify and identify objects and share that information with operational forces.
For more information: HC-130J Long Range Surveillance Aircraft Program page