USCG’s HC-144 programme achieves milestones
The US Coast Guard's (USCG's) HC-144 Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) programme has reached two new milestones, the USCG announced on 25 April.
The HC-144 programme received design approval and started Ocean Sentry Refresh (OSR) modifications, and the programme completed the Minotaur mission system suite prototype integration efforts and began test flights.
Under the OSR project the HC-144As are being upgraded with a new flight management system, which manages communication control, navigation and equipment monitoring. Following the completion of upgrades, each aircraft is re-designated as an HC-144B. The HC-144B configuration with upgrades has been approved by the USCG's Aircraft Configuration Control Board.
Two HC-144B aircraft have been produced to date: one prototype and one aircraft on which changes were validated and verified. Test flights began in March.
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