US Coast Guard Expands Aircraft Fleet with New Engines and Radar Systems

U.S. Coast Guard Aircraft Fleet Expansion: Strategic Modernization Through Engine and Radar-Systems Acquisitions

The U.S. Coast Guard is undergoing a significant modernization of its aviation fleet, marked by recent contract awards exceeding $28 million for new engines and advanced radar systems. These acquisitions are central to a broader transformation that will reshape the Coast Guard’s maritime aviation capabilities in the coming decades. The $14.3 million procurement of thirteen General Electric T700 engines and a $13.9 million contract for three AN/APY-11 multi-mode radar systems reflect the acceleration of long-planned recapitalization efforts, fueled by legislative support from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This initiative addresses the challenges of aging aircraft, deferred maintenance, and evolving operational demands, setting the stage for a more efficient, capable, and technologically advanced fleet.

The Coast Guard’s modernization strategy extends beyond equipment replacement. It aims to consolidate rotary-wing operations to a single platform, expand fixed-wing surveillance capabilities, and enhance mission system integration. These changes are designed to meet the security, search and rescue, and law enforcement needs of the 21st century, while overcoming the limitations of an aging and diverse fleet.

As the Coast Guard prepares for the future, the implications of these investments will be felt across its eleven statutory missions, from drug interdiction to disaster response. The modernization effort is not only a response to immediate operational needs but also a proactive step toward ensuring long-term maritime security and readiness.

Historical Context and Fleet Composition Background

The Coast Guard’s current aviation fleet reflects decades of budget constraints and evolving mission requirements. The rotary-wing component consists of 48 MH-60T Jayhawk helicopters and 98 MH-65 Dolphin Helicopters, totaling 146 rotary aircraft. The MH-60T, in service since 1990, has accumulated over 730,430 flight hours and participated in more than 48,300 search and rescue missions, saving nearly 12,000 lives over its operational history.

Maintaining this diverse fleet has become increasingly challenging. The MH-65 Dolphin, a short-range recovery helicopter, has faced sustainability issues since the retirement of the Airbus Helicopter H155 production line in 2018, which limited access to critical spare parts. This has led to higher maintenance costs and reduced aircraft availability, prompting Coast Guard leadership to consider consolidating to a single rotary-wing platform for operational and fiscal efficiency.

The fixed-wing fleet faces similar challenges. The Coast Guard operates legacy HC-130H aircraft, some dating back to 1959, alongside newer HC-130J models introduced in 2008. The HC-130J offers a 20% increase in speed and altitude and a 40% greater range compared to its predecessor, along with improved avionics and navigation systems. The service plans to replace all HC-130H aircraft with the HC-130J by 2027, aiming for a fleet of 22 missionized HC-130Js.

Recent Contract Awards and Technical Specifications

Engine Procurement for MH-60 Fleet

In September 2024, the Coast Guard placed a $14.3 million order for thirteen General Electric T700 engines to support the MH-60 helicopter fleet. These engines are essential for accelerating the transition of multiple air stations from MH-65E to MH-60T operations, aligning with the broader fleet consolidation strategy and ensuring continued operational capacity.

The T700 engine is part of a larger Department of Defense acquisition strategy, with a $1.1 billion contract awarded to GE Aerospace for up to 950 engines for use across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard. This joint procurement approach leverages economies of scale and ensures a reliable supply chain for critical components, with over 24,000 T700 engines delivered globally to date.

The new engines will play a crucial role in supporting the Coast Guard’s planned expansion from 48 to 127 MH-60T helicopters, providing the propulsion reliability required for extended missions and increased operational tempo.

Radar System Acquisition for HC-130J Aircraft

The Coast Guard also awarded a $13.9 million contract to L3 Harris Technologies for three AN/APY-11 multi-mode radar systems, to be installed on future HC-130J aircraft during the Minotaur missionization process. These radars enhance long-range surveillance capabilities, supporting missions such as search and rescue, drug interdiction, and maritime domain awareness.

The AN/APY-11 radar offers advanced features, including detection and tracking of ships, aircraft, ground vehicles, and Search and Rescue transponders, as well as high-resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar imaging. Its 360-degree coverage and adaptability for installation on various aircraft types make it a versatile tool for the Coast Guard’s diverse operational needs.

The integration of these radars with the Minotaur mission system ensures seamless collection and processing of sensor data, enhancing mission effectiveness and situational awareness for aircrews and command centers alike.

“The Coast Guard’s investment in advanced propulsion and surveillance systems is a pivotal step in ensuring operational readiness and mission success across its expanding fleet.”

MH-60T Fleet Expansion and Service Life Extension Program

The Coast Guard’s MH-60T modernization is one of the most ambitious rotary-wing recapitalization efforts in its history. The Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), initiated in 2017, addresses the impending end-of-life for most of the current MH-60T fleet, which averages 16,000 flight hours per aircraft and is approaching the 20,000-hour design limit.

The SLEP involves a comprehensive rebuild of each helicopter at the Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Technicians strip the aircraft to the airframe, replace dynamic components, upgrade avionics, and install new engines, effectively extending the service life and enhancing performance. Airframes are sourced from retired Navy H-60s and new builds from Sikorsky, with the first new airframe delivered in November 2023.

Alongside the SLEP, the Coast Guard plans to grow the MH-60T fleet to 127 helicopters, replacing all MH-65s. This expansion will occur in phases, with the first increment converting eight air stations and subsequent increments extending into the early 2040s. The transition requires careful management of procurement, training, and infrastructure to maintain operational coverage during the shift.

HC-130J Long Range Surveillance Aircraft Program

The HC-130J program is central to the Coast Guard’s fixed-wing modernization. Seventeen HC-130J aircraft are currently in service, with plans to reach a fleet of 22 fully missionized units. The HC-130J offers improved speed, range, and altitude over the legacy HC-130H, along with state-of-the-art avionics and mission systems.

Missionization of the HC-130J involves integrating the Minotaur system, which provides advanced command, control, communications, and intelligence capabilities. This system enables real-time data sharing, sensor fusion, and enhanced situational awareness, supporting a broad range of missions from search and rescue to law enforcement.

The Coast Guard’s latest HC-130J, accepted in January 2025, demonstrates the ongoing commitment to upgrading the fleet with the latest technology. These Military-Aircraft have collectively surpassed 100,000 flight hours, underscoring their reliability and operational value.

“The HC-130J’s advanced capabilities and mission system integration are critical to the Coast Guard’s ability to project maritime security and respond to evolving threats.”

Strategic Fleet Consolidation and Operational Benefits

Consolidating the rotary-wing fleet to the MH-60T platform is a strategic move aimed at improving operational efficiency, reducing maintenance complexity, and enhancing mission capability. The MH-60T offers more than double the range and payload of the MH-65, along with superior avionics and survivability features.

This consolidation simplifies training and logistics, as crews and maintenance personnel can focus on a single platform, reducing costs and improving flexibility. The end of MH-65 production has made continued support of that platform increasingly untenable, further justifying the shift to an all-MH-60T fleet.

The transition is not without challenges. As of late 2024, nearly 18% of the MH-60T fleet was grounded due to exceeding service life limits, and most remaining aircraft were approaching critical flight hour thresholds. The Coast Guard must balance ongoing operations with accelerated SLEP activities and new airframe procurement to maintain readiness.

Budgetary Context and Legislative Support

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act represents the largest single investment in Coast Guard history, providing nearly $25 billion for fleet recapitalization, infrastructure, and technology upgrades. This includes over $2.2 billion for rotary-wing aircraft and $1.1 billion for fixed-wing procurement, enabling the acquisition of more than 40 MH-60 helicopters and six C-130J aircraft.

The fiscal year 2026 Coast Guard budget request totals $14.494 billion, with $184 million allocated for aviation recapitalization. Unfunded priorities for FY25 include $138.5 million for one missionized HC-130J and $153.5 million for outfitting five MH-60Ts, highlighting the ongoing need for supplemental funding to meet modernization goals.

Legislative and budgetary support is crucial for sustaining the pace of modernization, addressing unfunded requirements, and ensuring the Coast Guard remains capable of fulfilling its statutory missions.

Technological Integration and Mission System Enhancement

Mission system integration is a cornerstone of the Coast Guard’s modernization strategy. The Minotaur Family of Services provides a unified platform for collecting, processing, and displaying intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data across all aircraft. This system leverages artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance situational awareness and operational decision-making.

The AN/APY-11 radar system, selected as part of the Minotaur suite, extends detection and tracking capabilities for ships, aircraft, and ground vehicles, and supports high-resolution imaging for search and rescue operations. Its deployment across the HC-130J fleet and other platforms ensures consistency and interoperability in mission execution.

These technological advancements enable the Coast Guard to respond more effectively to emerging threats, conduct complex operations, and share information seamlessly with partner agencies.

Operational Challenges and Implementation Timeline

The modernization initiative faces several challenges, including aircraft availability constraints, limited maintenance and manufacturing capacity, and the complexity of transitioning air stations over an extended period. The Aviation Logistics Center’s throughput limits the number of MH-60Ts that can be rebuilt or converted at any given time, potentially slowing the pace of fleet expansion.

Service life restrictions have already grounded a portion of the MH-60T fleet, placing additional strain on remaining helicopters. The Coast Guard is working to manage these issues through accelerated SLEP activities, new airframe procurement, and careful planning of air station transitions, which are expected to continue into the early 2040s.

Maintaining operational capability during this period will require effective resource management, workforce development, and sustained legislative support to address emerging needs and unforeseen challenges.

Strategic Implications and Future Outlook

The Coast Guard’s aircraft modernization is a transformative effort with far-reaching implications for U.S. maritime security. By standardizing platforms, integrating advanced mission systems, and expanding surveillance capabilities, the service is positioning itself to address contemporary threats and operational demands more effectively.

Future developments are likely to include increased use of unmanned aircraft systems, further integration of artificial intelligence, and continued collaboration with other military and homeland security agencies. The Coast Guard’s commitment to maintaining a robust, technologically advanced aviation fleet will be essential for safeguarding national interests in an increasingly complex maritime environment.

Conclusion

The Coast Guard’s recent investments in aircraft engines and radar systems are pivotal steps in a comprehensive modernization initiative that will define the service’s aviation capabilities for decades. Backed by historic funding levels and legislative support, these acquisitions accelerate fleet expansion, enhance operational readiness, and introduce cutting-edge technology across both rotary and fixed-wing platforms.

The challenges of transitioning to a new fleet structure, managing aging assets, and integrating advanced mission systems are significant but surmountable with sustained commitment and effective management. The Coast Guard’s strategic approach positions it to meet current and future mission requirements, ensuring continued leadership in maritime safety, security, and stewardship.

FAQ

What are the main goals of the Coast Guard’s aircraft modernization?
The main goals are to replace aging aircraft, consolidate the rotary-wing fleet to the MH-60T platform, expand fixed-wing surveillance capabilities with the HC-130J, and integrate advanced mission systems for improved operational effectiveness.

Why is the Coast Guard consolidating to the MH-60T helicopter?
The consolidation addresses maintenance and parts challenges associated with the MH-65 Dolphin, simplifies training and logistics, and provides enhanced range, payload, and survivability for Coast Guard missions.

How is the modernization effort being funded?
The effort is primarily funded through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which allocated nearly $25 billion for Coast Guard fleet recapitalization, infrastructure, and technology upgrades.

What technological upgrades are being integrated into the new aircraft?
Upgrades include the Minotaur mission system for real-time data fusion and situational awareness, and the AN/APY-11 multi-mode radar for enhanced surveillance, detection, and imaging capabilities.

What challenges does the Coast Guard face during this transition?
Key challenges include managing aircraft availability, limited maintenance and manufacturing capacity, extended transition timelines, and the need for ongoing legislative and budgetary support.

Sources: U.S. Coast Guard Newsroom