USCG receives 16th Ocean Sentry MPA
A new HC-144A Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft has been delivered to the US Coast Guard by Airbus Group. This is the 16th Ocean Sentry for the US Coast Guard, with another two aircraft scheduled for delivery during 2014.
The 15 Ocean Sentries already in service with the US Coast Guard are operated from Coast Guard Air Stations in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Mobile, Alabama, and Miami, Florida. A fourth HC-144A air station will be stood up in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The Ocean Sentry is based on the Airbus CN235 tactical airlifter. As a maritime patrol aircraft, the HC-144A is equipped with search radar, electro-optical and infrared cameras, an Automatic Identification System for data collection from vessels at sea, and a communications suite. It serves a wide range of missions, including drug and migrant interdiction, disaster response and search and rescue.
Sean O’Keefe, chairman and CEO, Airbus Group, said: ‘The coast guard competitively selected and is buying the HC-144A because it has proven to effectively and efficiently perform the broad range of demanding maritime patrol missions, including search and rescue, homeland security, disaster response and national defence.
‘The Department of Homeland Security recently recognised the coast guard’s HC-144A maritime patrol aircraft programme as the DHS Project of the Year, and we’re proud to have worked with them to deliver this capability consistently on schedule and on cost. We are pleased to be members of the coast guard aviation community and to support the dedicated men and women who protect our nation’s coasts and waterways.’
More from Naval Warfare
-
SEA to trial sonar software for UK Royal Navy
The UK Royal Navy’s anti-submarine warfare Spearhead programme, run by the service’s Develop Directorate, has been investigating future and existing technologies with a particular focus on the USV arena.
-
Australia’s new frigate options: No easy choices as pressure mounts on DoD
A new class of General Purpose ‘Tier 2’ frigate will replace the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN’s) Anzac-class frigates, but the selected design options appear to have major issues in terms of compatibility and availability for the future fleet.
-
Royal Navy welcomes mine-hunting mothership
RFA Stirling Castle, a 6,000-tonne vessel, will start operations later this year.
-
Royal Navy to receive DragonFire laser system
The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) made the decision to accelerate the laser programme from the demonstrational stage to an operational laser weapon.
-
Royal Navy’s new Dreadnought SSBNs to be equipped with OSI’s ECPINS
The contracts between OSI Maritime Systems (OSI) and BAE Systems Submarines will encompass continued support for the Astute-class nuclear-powered submarines (SSN) and the future Dreadnought-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN).