USCG receives HC-130J with MSS+
L3 Technologies has delivered the first production HC-130J aircraft integrated with the next-generation Minotaur Mission System Suite (MSS+) to the US Coast Guard (USCG), the company announced on 31 January.
Developed jointly by the USCG and the US Navy, the government-furnished MSS+ is expected to improve the USCG’s long-range surveillance capabilities.
L-3's work included integration and testing of the aircraft under a five-year contract. The company will now perform full system integration on two additional baseline configuration aircraft and will retrofit four HC-130J aircraft. The contract also includes the option of missionising five additional aircraft.
Christopher Kubasik, chief executive officer and president, L3, said: ‘Developing and delivering world-class innovative ISR systems is what we do best. It is a key market that we continue to pursue as part of our overall strategy to help our customers achieve their goals.
‘This important HC-130J modification capability adds to our robust portfolio of work for the USCG with industry-leading C-130 expertise and integration experience to meet the rigors of its challenging and often dangerous missions.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet
The UK MoD is scoping out systems to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems, with a focus on low-cost modularity and speed to field.
-
US Pentagon claims to have severely damaged Iranian capabilities, promises to increase attacks
US military authorities claim to have sunk 20 Iranian vessels and destroyed Tehran’s Air Force, with the Pentagon making plans to send additional assets to the region.
-
US Navy SPY-6 approaches FRP with Raytheon already having “a hot production line”
Jen Gauthier, Raytheon’s VP of Naval Systems and Sustainment, told Shephard that the company is awaiting the US Navy’s green light to move “fully into full-rate production”.
-
How the Golden Fleet will change the US Navy acquisition process
The procurement of the future USN Golden Fleet is planned to be less bureaucratic than previous strategies, involving AI-enabled designs and scheduling tools to increase productivity and avoid delays.