From the iconic amphibious HH-3 Pelicans to more recent HH-65 Dolphins and MH-60T Jayhawks, helicopters are the first thing most people associate with Coast Guard aviation. Scenes of rescue swimmers (sometimes called “sky gods”) hoisting endangered civilians—or even the unfortunate Nick “Goose” Bradshaw in the original Top Gun—from the water immediately come to mind.
But the service’s lesser-known fixed-wing aircraft have important roles, too. Medium- and long-range surveillance are vital to several of the service’s 11 statutory missions, and the craft can deliver survival gear and supplies outside helicopter range. Ice patrol helps keep northern waters safe, and HC-130s can function as search-and-rescue command-and-control aircraft far from land.
The service operates three types of fixed-wing aircraft, all turboprops—the HC-130J, HC-144, and C-27J. (The service’s HC-25 Dassault Falcon jets were retired in 2014.)
All three types are being outfitted with the Minotaur mission system, which is based on a Navy system also used by Customs and Border Protection. According to Lockheed Martin, the HC-130J’s manufacturer, Minotaur manages sensors that include automatic identification and direction-finding capabilities; long-range, multimode radar; an electro-optical and infrared sensor turret that provides both imagery and target data; an advanced open architecture mission system processor; and an extensive communication suite.
—Brian O’Rourke