USCG receives 11th C-130J Super Hercules
The US Coast Guard (USCG) has received its 11th C-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft from Lockheed Martin, the USCG announced on 29 November.
The aircraft was delivered in its baseline configuration. It will now move to the L3 Technologies Integrated Systems Platform Integration division to undergo installation of the Minotaur mission system suite.
The aircraft will receive USCG-specific integrated radar, sensor and communications systems, after which it will be redesignated as an HC-130J.
Out of total ten aircraft delivered, seven HC-130Js are operating out of Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, three with Minotaur and four with the legacy mission system. Three aircraft have entered the Minotaur mission system suite modification programme, with the next missionised aircraft delivery scheduled for 2018.
Production of C-130Js 12-14 is currently ongoing, with delivery of two aircraft expected in 2019 and one in 2020.
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