U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Shepard Fosdyke-Jackson.
WASHINGTON — The USCG recently completed contract actions aimed at accelerating delivery of new MH-60T Jayhawk medium-range recovery helicopters and HC-130J Hercules long-range surveillance aircraft and expanding mission capabilities of the expanded aviation fleet.
On September 8, the Coast Guard placed a $14.3 million order for delivery of 13 General Electric T700 engines for its MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter fleet. On September 18, the Service contracted with L3 Harris Technologies Inc. for delivery of three AN/APY-11 multi-mode radar systems, valued at $13.9 million, to be installed on future HC-130Js during the Minotaur missionization process.
Both orders were made possible due to investments in the Coast Guard fleet made by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
The T700 engines are among the long lead-time components needed to grow the Coast Guard’s MH-60T Jayhawk fleet and expedite transition of several Air Stations from the MH-65E to the MH-60T.
The Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk helicopters range, speed, payload and avionics and sensors suite make it a capable platform for all 11 Coast Guard missions. The aircraft’s ability to locate, identify and track surface targets day or night makes it a valuable search and rescue (SAR) and law enforcement asset. The transition of Air Stations to these new USCG MH-60T Jayhawk units is necessary to sustain rotary wing capability as the Airbus Helicopters MH-65E Dolphin continues to face supportability issues driven by a diminishing supply base for an out-of-production aircraft.
The AN/APY-11 radar system was chosen as the optimal multi-mode radar to enhance operational effectiveness as part of the Minotaur Mission System Suite. The Minotaur Mission System enables the collection and correlation of sensor and track data, which is used to conduct drug trafficking and illegal immigrants interdictions, search and rescue, and other statutory missions.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s long-range surveillance fleet is a proven asset vital to control, secure and defend the U.S. border and maritime approaches, facilitate commerce vital to economic prosperity, and respond to crises and contingencies. The Coast Guard HC-130J Super Hercules aircraft fleet is the Department of Homeland Security’s airlift asset and can provide critical support to DHS partners in response to national events as well as logistical support during routine operations.
The OBBBA includes more than $3.3 billion to expand the Coast Guard’s HC-130J and MH-60T fleets. Nearly $2.3 billion is for the production and fielding of new MH-60T Jayhawk aircraft and delivery of multiple simulators.
Approximately $1.1 billion is for production and missionization of six additional HC-130J Super Hercules aircraft, along with associated spare parts and the service’s first HC-130J simulator.
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