After the Coast Guard accepted delivery of its 10th C-130J, the aircraft was flown to the L3 Technologies Integrated Systems Platform Integration Division in Waco, Texas, for induction into the Minotaur mission system suite installation program Feb. 28, 2017. The aircraft will be painted prior to its delivery as an HC-130J. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

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Acquisition Update: Coast Guard Accepts 10th C-130J

March 3, 2017

The Coast Guard accepted delivery of its 10th C-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics’ Greenville, South Carolina, facility Feb. 24.

The aircraft was delivered to the Coast Guard in its baseline configuration. On Feb. 28, the service delivered the aircraft to the L3 Technologies Integrated Systems Platform Integration Division in Waco, Texas, for induction into the Minotaur mission system suite modification program. Missionization is the process of installing Coast Guard-specific integrated radar, sensor and communications systems, after which the aircraft are redesignated as HC-130Js. The service’s fleet integration team in Waco oversees this process on the C-130Js. The L3 division in Waco will also paint the aircraft prior to its delivery as an HC-130J.

Of the other nine HC-130Js delivered, six are operating with the legacy mission system out of Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina. One is serving as the Minotaur mission system suite prototype and has undergone in-flight testing of the system at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland; two have entered the Minotaur mission system suite modification program in Waco.

The 11th C-130J is in production at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta, Georgia, facility, and the 12th and 13th C-130Js are under contract, with delivery of one base configuration aircraft expected in 2018 and two in 2019.

For more information: HC-130J Long Range Surveillance Aircraft program page