June 29, 2022 —
The Coast Guard Aviation Projects Acquisition Center Fleet Integration Team performs acceptance flights for CGNR 2015 following completion of Minotaur mission system installation at L3Harris in Waco, Texas. U.S. Coast Guard photo.
The Coast Guard accepted the delivery of its 15th HC-130J long range surveillance aircraft, CGNR 2015, June 23, following completion of Minotaur mission system integration and Block Upgrade 8.1 installation at L3Harris in Waco, Texas.
The aircraft will be stationed at the Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, for performance testing of the next-generation Mobile User Objective System airborne radio and will be assigned to an air station at a future date. Air stations Elizabeth City and Kodiak, Alaska, have fully transitioned to the HC-130J. Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, is partially transitioned.
The service’s Super Hercules aircraft carry out many Coast Guard missions, including search and rescue, drug and migrant interdiction, cargo and personnel transport, and maritime stewardship, as well as providing critical support to Department of Homeland Security partners. The aircraft also can serve as a command and control or surveillance platform capable of identifying and classifying objects and sharing that information with operational forces.
For more information: HC-130J Program page