US Coast Guard receives 18th HC-144A Ocean Sentry
The 18th HC-144A Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) has been delivered to the US Coast Guard by Airbus Defense and Space (D&S), the company announced on 7 October.
The aircraft will join a fleet of Ocean Sentries operating from Coast Guard Air Stations in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Mobile, Alabama, Miami, Florida; and Corpus Christi, Texas, which retired its HU-25 Guardian MPA aircraft in favour of the HC-144 in September.
Mike Cosentino, president, Airbus D&S, said: ‘Airbus D&S is dedicated to supporting the US Coast Guard’s HC-144A fleet and will provide technical engineering services and spare parts for decades to come. The ease of maintenance and low operating costs have allowed the coast guard to achieve exceptional operational effectiveness and reliability with the HC-144A.
The Ocean Sentry is based on the Airbus D&S CN235 tactical airlifter. The coast guard operates the aircraft in a broad range of maritime patrol missions, including search and rescue, homeland security and disaster response.
The US Coast Guard’s Ocean Sentry fleet recently reached 50,000 flight hours.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Kongsberg awarded $960 million missile contract]()
Kongsberg awarded $960 million missile contract
The contract could rise to as much as US$1.1 billion and follows an announcement last month that Kongsberg was building a missile production facility in the US to meet burgeoning global demand.
-
![New US Navy batteries are deemed submarine-safe]()
New US Navy batteries are deemed submarine-safe
The use of Passive Propagation Technology significantly reduces the risk of Lithium-ion batteries for use in torpedo tube launched AUVs.
-
![BAE Systems’ Herne XLAUV set to hunt for underwater intelligence]()
BAE Systems’ Herne XLAUV set to hunt for underwater intelligence
The Herne is modular, highly configurable underwater autonomous platform, with potential for both ISR missions in the short term and self-determined assistance surveillance later.
