Washington, DC = Using funds that had been transferred from the Coast Guard, the Air Force awarded a contract to Lockheed Martin Corp. for production of two HC-130J Super Hercules aircraft Dec. 31, 2014. The 10th and 11th HC-130Js in the Coast Guard’s fleet are expected to be delivered in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
The U.S. Air Force placed an order for two HC-130J Super Hercules aircraft, increasing the Coast Guard’s fleet that includes six aircraft performing operations out of Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and three aircraft currently in production. Coast Guard photo.
The Coast Guard order was part of a $662 million Air Force contract action that included acquisition of 10 C-130J aircraft and 20 quick engine change assemblies. All contract work will be completed at Lockheed Martin’s Marietta, Georgia, facility. The Air Force is the government’s executive agent for all C-130 procurements. The Coast Guard will award separate contracts to configure the aircraft to meet its mission requirements.
The Coast Guard currently operates six HC-130Js as part of its long range surveillance aircraft fleet. Three additional HC-130Js are under construction, with delivery in 2015. Upon delivery to the Coast Guard, missionization of these aircraft will take an additional year.
The Super Hercules 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.
