Sept. 25, 2025 —
The Coast Guard recently completed contract actions aimed at accelerating delivery of new MH-60 medium-range recovery helicopters and HC-130J long-range surveillance aircraft as funded in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. U.S. Coast Guard photos.
The Coast Guard recently completed contract actions aimed at accelerating delivery of new MH-60 medium range recovery helicopters and HC-130J long range surveillance aircraft and expanding mission capabilities of the expanded aviation fleet.
On Sept. 8, 2025, the Coast Guard placed a $14.3 million order for delivery of 13 General Electric T700 engines for its MH-60 helicopter fleet. On Sept. 18, the service exercised contract options with L3 Harris Technologies Inc. for delivery of three additional AN/APY-11 multi-mode radar systems, with a combined total value of $13.9 million, to be installed on future HC-130Js during the Minotaur missionization process.
Both orders were made possible due to the historic 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-60 fleet and expedite transition of several air stations from the MH-65E to the MH-60. The MH-60’s range, speed, payload and avionics/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 and law enforcement asset. Transition of air stations is necessary to sustain rotary wing capability as the MH-65E 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 and alien interdictions, search and rescue, and other statutory missions.
The 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 fleet is the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) largest, most capable 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-60 fleets: nearly $2.3 billion for the production and fielding of new MH-60 aircraft along with delivery of multiple simulators and approximately $1.1 billion for production and missionization of additional HC-130J aircraft, along with delivery of associated spare parts and the service’s first HC-130J simulator.
For more information: MH-60 Acquisition/Sustainment and HC-130J Long Range Surveillance Aircraft program pages