USCG Super Hercules delivery

On 18 November 2020, the US Coast Guard accepted its fifteenth C-130J Super Hercules from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Marietta (GA).

The long range surveillance aircraft with serial 2015 was delivered as a standard Juliet and flown to Aviation Logistics Center Elizabeth City (NC), where it will be modified.

Mid-January 2021, the aircraft will be flown to Waco (TX), where L3Harris ISR Systems will place the USCG Minotaur mission system suite that includes software and USCG-specific integrated radar, sensors and communication systems as well as a Block 8.1 upgrade that adds enhanced inter-communication systems, enhanced approach and landing systems, expanded diagnostics, civil GPS and additional covert lighting. The missionization will lead to the redesignation of the aircraft into HC-130J.

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) that oversees the USCG will use the HC-130Js for many specific USCG missions, including search and rescue (SAR), drug and migrant interdiction, command and control and surveillance, cargo and personnel transport and overall maritime missions. The aircraft is capable of working together with other US services too.

The USCG ordered seventeen HC-130Js, serials 2001 to 2017, of which fourteen are now in operational use from CGAS Elizabeth City (NC) and CGAS Kodiak (AK).

Photo Lockheed Martin