HC-130J Long Range Surveillance Aircraft

HC130J

Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak's first HC-130J Super Hercules arrives in Kodiak, Alaska, Aug. 21, 2018. Air Station Kodiak has received five HC-130J aircraft to replace the five HC-130H planes that were stationed there. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathan Harper.


The Coast Guard’s HC-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft provide heavy air transport and long-range maritime patrol capability. Each aircraft is capable of serving as an on-scene command and control platform or as a surveillance platform with the means to detect, classify and identify objects and share that information with operational forces.

The Coast Guard is acquiring a fleet of 22 new, fully missionized HC-130J aircraft to replace the capability of its legacy HC-130Hs. 

Why this program?

The HC-130J has a more advanced engine and propellers, which provide a 20 percent increase in speed and altitude, and a 40 percent increase in range over the HC-130H. The new aircraft also features state-of-the-market avionics, including all-glass cockpit displays and improved navigation equipment. The HC-130J’s suite of command, control, communication, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) equipment helps to extend the fleet’s mission capabilities.

The Coast Guard is integrating Minotaur mission system architecture into its fixed-wing aircraft. Missionization includes post-production modification of new C-130J aircraft to incorporate the specialized equipment necessary to carry out Coast Guard missions. All aircraft with the legacy mission system have completed Minotaur retrofits, and all new aircraft are Minotaur missionized before they are delivered to the fleet.

The Coast Guard has 16 HC-130Js in its operational fleet. Under production:  

Status Aircraft Location
Undergoing missionization from baseline C-130J configuration CGNR 2017 Waco, Texas
(L3Harris)
On order CGNR 2018CGNR 2019 Marietta, Georgia
(Lockheed Martin Aeronautics)

HC44

The HC-130J fleet carries out traditional missions including search and rescue, cargo and personnel transport, and law enforcement.

Characteristics

  • Length: 97 feet 9 inches
  • Wingspan: 132 feet 7 inches
  • Height: 38 feet 11 inches
  • Maximum Weight: 175,000 pounds 
  • Cruise Speed: 320 knots true airspeed
  • Range: 4,900 nautical miles
  • Endurance: 20+ hours

Features

  • Standardized Minotaur mission system across all Coast Guard fixed-wing aircraft
  • Real-time tracking and Rescue 21 integration to enhance common operating picture and maritime domain awareness
  • Advanced radar and electro-optical/infrared sensors for search and rescue, law enforcement and intelligence gathering missions; the Coast Guard’s Super Hercules is the first HC-130 aircraft in the world with a 360-degree, belly-mounted, multimode surface search radar
  • Commonality of command, control, communication, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance components and capabilities with those on the Coast Guard’s medium range surveillance aircraft

LRS: In the News

2024

March 7, 2024 - Coast Guard accepts 16th missionized HC-130J into fleet

2023

Aug. 11, 2023 - Coast Guard accepts 17th C-130J long range surveillance aircraft

2022

Nov. 17, 2022 - Coast Guard accepts 16th C-130J long range surveillance aircraft

Oct. 11, 2022 - Coast Guard awards contract for radar systems for new C-130Js

July 20, 2022 - Coast Guard awards contract for C-130J missionization

June 29, 2022 - Coast Guard accepts 15th missionized HC-130J into fleet

May 13, 2022 - Air Force orders one C-130J for Coast Guard

March 11, 2022 - Coast Guard releases request for proposal for C-130J missionization

Feb. 8, 2022 - Coast Guard continues HC-130J deliveries, expands capabilities in the Pacific

2021

Oct. 29, 2021 - Coast Guard accepts missionized HC-130J aircraft

June 17, 2021 - Coast Guard begins HC-130J operations at Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii

April 8, 2021 - Air Force order includes one C-130J for Coast Guard

2020

Nov. 25, 2020 - Coast Guard accepts 15th C-130J aircraft

Aug. 3, 2020 - Coast Guard accepts missionized HC-130J aircraft

May 6, 2020 - Coast Guard accepts 14th C-130J aircraft

March 5, 2020 - Coast Guard accepts missionized HC-130J aircraft

Feb. 12, 2020 - Coast Guard receives upgraded HC-130J

Jan. 17, 2020 - Air Force order includes one C-130J for Coast Guard

2019

Sept. 16, 2019 - Final HC-130J with legacy mission system completes Minotaur missionization

Aug. 9, 2019 - Coast Guard transfers fifth HC-130J to Air Station Kodiak

July 2, 2019 - Coast Guard accepts 10th missionized HC-130J aircraft

April 29, 2019 - Coast Guard accepts 13th C-130J aircraft

April 15, 2019 - Coast Guard transfers third HC-130J to Air Station Kodiak

March 28, 2019 - Final HC-130J with legacy mission system inducted into Minotaur missionization

Feb. 12, 2019 - Coast Guard accepts missionized HC-130J aircraft

Jan. 30, 2019 - Coast Guard accepts 12th C-130J aircraft

2018

Dec. 10, 2018 - Coast Guard accepts delivery of Minotaur missionized HC-130J

Sept. 10, 2018 - Coast Guard releases request for information on HC-130J missionization, upgrades

Aug. 22, 2018 - Coast Guard transfers HC-130J to Air Station Kodiak

June 22, 2018 - Coast Guard awards HC-130J Minotaur Mission System Suite retrofit option, accepts separate HC-130J following Minotaur retrofit

May 17, 2018 - Coast Guard delivers latest HC-130J for Minotaur retrofit

April 10, 2018 - Coast Guard accepts second HC-130J outfitted with Minotaur from baseline configuration

March 5, 2018 - Coast Guard delivers HC-130J for Minotaur retrofit

Feb. 7, 2018 - Coast Guard accepts HC-130J following Minotaur retrofit

Jan. 12, 2018 - Coast Guard exercises HC-130J Minotaur installation options

2017

Nov. 29, 2017 - Coast Guard accepts 11th C-130J

Nov. 7, 2017 - Coast Guard accepts first HC-130J retrofitted with Minotaur under missionization contract

Sept. 27, 2017 - Coast Guard accepts first HC-130J outfitted with Minotaur from baseline configuration

Sept. 26, 2017 - Coast Guard aircrews load supplies for Puerto Rico

Sept. 15, 2017 - Coast Guard orders 14th C-130J long range surveillance aircraft

Aug. 14, 2017 - First Coast Guard Minotaur aircraft conducts search and rescue

July 11, 2017 - Coast Guard exercises option for fourth HC-130J Minotaur retrofit

June 21, 2017 - Acquisition update: HC-130J Minotaur prototype delivered to fleet

May 25, 2017 - Acquisition update: second HC-130J enters Minotaur production

March 30, 2017 - Acquisition update: Coast Guard awards HC-130J Minotaur Mission System Suite retrofit option

March 17, 2017 - Coast Guard procures five HC-130J engines

March 3, 2017 - Acquisition update: Coast Guard accepts 10th C-130J

2016

Dec. 27, 2016 - Acquisition Update: Coast Guard Awards HC-130J Minotaur Missionization Option

Dec. 19, 2016 - Acquisition Update: Coast Guard Accepts Eighth Missionized HC-130J

Dec. 12, 2016 - Coast Guard Highlights HC-130J Mission Capabilities At Patuxent River Air Show

Aug. 8, 2016 - Senior Coast Guard Officials Observe Minotaur Demonstration

July 20, 2016 - Coast Guard Establishes HC-130J Minotaur Fleet Integration Team

June 21, 2016 - Acquisition Update: Coast Guard Begins HC-130J Minotaur Prototype In-Flight Testing

May 12, 2016 - Acquisition Update: Coast Guard Accepts Seventh Missionized HC-130J

April 22, 2016 - Acquisition Update: Coast Guard Orders C-130J Long Range Surveillance Aircraft

March 23, 2016 - New Coast Guard HC-130J Readied For Delivery

Jan. 8, 2016 - Acquisition Update: Air Force Order Includes One C-130J Surveillance Aircraft For Coast Guard

2015

Sept. 22, 2015 - Acquisition Update: Coast Guard Awards Contract For C-130J Missionization With Minotaur

Sept. 3, 2015 - Acquisition Update: Ninth C-130J Joins Coast Guard’s Super Hercules Fleet

June 30, 2015 - Acquisition Update: Coast Guard Accepts Ninth C-130J Aircraft

June 2, 2015 - New Coast Guard HC-130J Takes To Air For First Time

March 19,2015 - Acquisition Update: Coast Guard Accepts Eighth C-130J Aircraft

March 13, 2015 - Acquisition Update: Coast Guard Issues RFP For C-130J Missionization With Minotaur

Feb. 24, 2015 - Coast Guard Accepts Seventh C-130J Aircraft

Jan. 29, 2015 - Acquisition Update: Air Force Order Includes Two HC-130J Surveillance Aircraft for Coast Guard

Jan. 13, 2015 - New Coast Guard HC-130Js Nearing Next Phase Of Construction

2014

Dec. 17, 2014 - Coast Guard Transfers HC-130H Hercules Aircraft to NASA

Dec. 3, 2014 - Coast Guard Super Hercules Aircraft Takes Shape

2013

March 7, 2013 - ITT Exelis to supply radar for Coast Guard's HC-130J

Jan. 7, 2013 - Coast Guard HC-130H Conversion/Sustainment Project Delivers Upgraded Prototype