KODIAK, Alaska, the USA (BulgarianMilitray.com), 28 August 2018, Editor: Galina Zdravkova, Photo credit: João Eduardo Sequeira/USCG HC-130J

The Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak in Alaska received an HC-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft, CGNR-2009. It was transferred by the US Coast Guard (USCG) on 21st August 2018, learned BulgarianMilitary.com

Read more: The First of Four Red Flag-Alaska Exercises Scheduled for 2018 Was Held

The delivered aircraft is first of five HC-130Js that will replace the five HC-130H aircrafts currently stationed at Kodiak. It was originally stationed at Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina.

The HC-130J is a long range, multi-mission surveillance maritime patrol aircraft of Lockheed Martin, and it is developed for the USCG. The aircraft is intended for surveillance, search-and-rescue, command-and-control, law enforcement, international ice patrol and homeland security missions.

The HC-130J has improved engines and propellers thanks to which the speed and altitude are increased by 20%, and the range is increased by 40%. The HC-130J will also provide a better view point, because higher altitudes can be reached thanks to its equipment which includes a liquid oxygen system. The CGNR-2009 will provide increased capabilities for use of the sensors, radar and intelligence-gathering equipment as it is equipped with the Minotaur Mission System Suite and it is actually the first HC-130J that was outfitted with such a system directly following production. The Minotaur is government-owned and -operated mission system architecture, which integrates imagery and data from several sensor streams, and thus allowing operators to track targets and transmit information to other platforms and units.

Thanks to the improvements the coast guard will be able to respond quicker and better to mariners in threat as the response and search time are improved. The effectiveness and flexibility, which are essential for the challenging weather and terrain in Alaska, are also a lot more increased.

The other four HC-130Js will be delivered to Kodiak next year.

Follow us everywhere and at any time. BulgarianMilitary.com has responsive design and you can open the page from any computer, mobile devices or web browsers. For more up-to-date news from us, follow our Reddit, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Google+ pages. Do not miss the chance to subscribe to our newsletter.

BulgarianMilitary.com