USCG MH-65E Dolphin SLEP
The short range recovery helicopter Service Life Extension Programme (SLEP) of the US Coast Guard quietly began the deliveries of upgraded MH-65E Dolphins to the fleet as the USCG announced late November 2020.
The full-rate production of the MH-65E configuration began in November 2019 with the transfer of serial 6522 to the US Coast Guard Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City (NC). That first production MH-65E was delivered to CGAS Houston (TX) on 14 July 2020.
A second MH-65E was delivered to CGAS Miami (FL) on 3 November 2020. Both Coast Guard Air Stations have now fully converted to Echo and each operates four of these helicopters.
The modification programme will eventually lead to 98 modified Dolphins. The SLEP foresees five major structure components, strengthening the frame, the installment of an improved and new canopy, a center console floor, floorboards and side panels assembly. These improvements are designed in such a way that these extend the service life of the Dolphin by 10,000 flight hours.
The upgrade to MH-65E includes new avionics that gives pilots an increase in their situational awareness and a reduction in their workload in the fully digitalized flight deck. “Immediately after launching for a search and rescue mission offshore, pilots can input a detailed flight plan and inform the crew of how much time they will have on scene with a lot more precision.” as Commander Marcus Canady, commanding officer of Air Station Houston said.
The MH-65E configuration includes reliability and capability improvements for the Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), and enhanced digital weather/surface search radar as well as an integration of a robust command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) suite. The helicopter is also provided with an upgraded search and rescue (SAR) capabilities and advanced navigation capabilities.
The Echo can be armed with a Barrett M107CQ 12.7mm anti-materiel rifle and M240G 7.62mm machine gun.
CGAS Port Angeles (CA) and Barbers Point (HI) will be the next stations to receive the MH-65E. The projected completion of the MH-65E conversion for all 98 helicopters is fiscal year 2024.
Photo: USCG