The US Coast Guard is enhancing its airborne long-range surveillance capabilities with the recent acquisition of an 18th HC-130J Combat King II aircraft from Lockheed Martin. This aircraft, shipped in its basic C-130J Super Hercules configuration, will undergo a comprehensive one-year modification process in Georgia, aimed at improving its maritime patrol and heavy air transport capabilities.
A key element of this modernization effort is the installation of the advanced Minotaur mission suite. This cutting-edge suite integrates technologies for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, sensor operations, radar, communications, cyber capabilities, and command and control processing. Such upgrades are designed to significantly enhance the aircraft’s data collection and transmission abilities, as well as overall performance during missions.
In addition to the Minotaur suite, the aircraft will be equipped with specialized GPS and approach and landing systems, along with various diagnostic and compliance devices to meet US Federal Aviation Administration standards. Once modifications are complete, the missionized Combat King II is projected to achieve full operational capability by 2026, with delivery of the enhanced platform scheduled for the same year.
The HC-130J Combat King II will perform a variety of critical missions, including search and rescue operations, drug interdiction, immigrant deportation, and transportation of cargo and personnel. These operations will support not only the Coast Guard but also US Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security.
The specifications of the HC-130J Combat King II provide a glimpse into its operational capabilities. With a length of 98 feet (30 meters) and a wingspan of 133 feet (41 meters), the aircraft has a cargo capacity of 35,000 pounds (approximately 15,876 kilograms) and can hold up to 9,000 gallons (about 34,069 liters) of fuel. Each of its four Rolls-Royce turboprop engines delivers around 4,500 horsepower, enabling the aircraft to reach a maximum speed of 320 knots (368 miles/593 kilometers per hour) and a range of 4,000 miles (6,437 kilometers). Additionally, it has a service ceiling of 33,000 feet (10,058 meters).
Coinciding with this new acquisition, the 17th missionized HC-130J, designated CGNR 2017, continues its preparations, having completed test flights ahead of its scheduled delivery on December 18, 2024, to the Aviation Logistics Center located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. This aircraft, along with the soon-to-be modified 18th frame, underscores the Coast Guard’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its operational readiness and efficiency in varying missions across the maritime domain.
