Feb. 9, 2026

Coast Guard takes delivery of 18th mission-ready HC-130J surveillance aircraft

The Coast Guard took delivery of its 18th fully missionized HC-130J long range surveillance aircraft on Feb. 7, 2026, at L3Harris Integrated Mission Systems in Waco, Texas. The aircraft – designated CGNR 2018 – will support the transition of Air Station Sacramento, California, from C-27J aircraft to HC-130Js. Three Coast Guard air stations currently operate the HC-130J: Elizabeth City, North Carolina; Kodiak, Alaska; and Barbers Point, Hawaii.

Jan. 27, 2026

Coast Guard commissions 61st fast response cutter, Olivia Hooker

The Coast Guard commissioned its 61st fast response cutter (FRC), Coast Guard Cutter Olivia Hooker, on Jan. 22 in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Olivia Hooker is the second FRC to be homeported at Coast Guard Station Pascagoula.

Jan. 15, 2026

Coast Guard awards contract to rebuild Station South Padre Island

The Coast Guard’s Facilities Design and Construction Center awarded a $200 million design-build contract to The Haskell Company Jan. 9 for the comprehensive recapitalization and expansion of Coast Guard Station South Padre Island in South Padre Island, Texas.

Jan. 9, 2026

Coast Guard awards four contracts to acquire response boat-small demonstration boats

The Coast Guard on Jan. 8 awarded four contracts to acquire demonstration boats that will be used to develop and validate performance requirements, assess industry capabilities and gather information about the marketplace. The service will use the information captured from operation of the boats to inform development of future boat acquisitions.

Dec. 30, 2025

Coast Guard awards contracts to build arctic security cutters

The U.S. Coast Guard announced the award of two contracts to build up to six arctic security cutter (ASC) icebreakers — ships designed to break through and navigate ice-covered waters —between the United States and Finland in a major step forward for America’s national security.

Dec. 15, 2025

Coast Guard awards contract for next-generation Biometrics at Sea System

On Sept. 4, the Coast Guard awarded an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with a value up to $9.7 million to Parsons Corporation’s InCadence Strategic Solutions to support the service’s next-generation Biometrics at Sea System, known as BASS 2.0.

Dec. 10, 2025

Coast Guard accepts delivery of 61st fast response cutter

The Coast Guard accepted delivery of the 61st fast response cutter (FRC), Olivia Hooker, on Oct. 23 in Key West, Florida. Olivia Hooker will be the third FRC to be homeported in Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Dec. 9, 2025

Coast Guard authenticates keel for offshore patrol cutter Pickering

The Coast Guard and shipbuilder Austal USA authenticated the keel for offshore patrol cutter (OPC) Pickering in Mobile, Alabama, Dec. 8.

Nov. 25, 2025

Coast Guard replaces critical autonomous systems used by special response units, expands sUAS fleet

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) provides nearly $350 million to transform the Coast Guard’s use of unmanned and autonomous systems to support mission execution. Of this amount, the Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Program Executive Office (PEO) used $11.1 million in fiscal year 2025 to immediately replace or expand critical autonomous systems.

Nov. 21, 2025

Coast Guard conducts market research on AI solutions to enhance contracting, procurement and acquisitions

On Nov. 14, the Coast Guard published a request for information (RFI) seeking information on commercial solutions with integrated artificial intelligence (AI) capability that could enhance the efficiency and quality of the service’s contracting, procurement and acquisition program management process.