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Home > News Releases > News 2016
Acquisition Update: Coast Guard Awards HC-130J Minotaur Missionization Option
Dec. 27, 2016
CGNR 2009, the first HC-130J Super Hercules to enter the Minotaur
integration process in its baseline configuration, during one component of
the installation process of Minotaur mission system software and integrated
radar, sensor and communications systems. Its missionization began in April
2016. Photo courtesy of L-3.
The Coast Guard on Dec. 16 awarded an option worth approximately $14.6 million to L-3 Communications Integrated Systems Platform Integration Division in Waco, Texas, for Minotaur missionization of what will be the 11th HC-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft in its fleet.
The 11th HC-130J is currently in production and is scheduled for delivery in its baseline configuration in early 2018. Following this delivery, the aircraft will undergo installation of Minotaur mission system software and integrated radar, sensor and communications systems specific to the Coast Guard’s needs. This missionization is planned to take about a year.
The Coast Guard has eight HC-130Js missionized with its legacy system. Six of these aircraft are operating out of Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina. One has been retrofitted with the Minotaur mission system to become the Minotaur prototype and is based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, for continued testing. Another entered the Minotaur integration process Dec. 13, 2016.
The first Super Hercules to enter the Minotaur integration process in its baseline configuration was CGNR 2009. Its missionization began in April 2016. This aircraft will be used to validate changes made to the Minotaur prototype.
The 10th aircraft is currently in production and is scheduled for delivery in its baseline configuration in early 2017, after which it will undergo Minotaur missionization. The 12th and 13th aircraft are under contract and are scheduled for delivery in their baseline configuration in 2019.
For more information: HC-130J Long Range Surveillance Aircraft program page