Summary
- US Coast Guard operates a large fleet of aircraft totaling around 200 with armed capabilities
- The Hercules is the Coast Guard’s main support craft, with a variety of configurations for multiple missions
- The Coast Guard heavily relies on helicopters like the MH-65 Dolphins and MH-60T Jayhawk for missions including SAR
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is much more than the search and rescue force of coast guards in many countries. The US Coast Guard operates a fleet larger than many of the world’s navies and a small air fleet larger than some of the world’s smaller air forces made up of around 200 airplanes and helicopters and even MQ-9 Reapers jointly operated with the Customs & Border Protection.
The US Coast Guard is one of the US’s eight uniformed services. It is the largest and most militarized coast guard in the world. However, unlike other US service branches, its air fleet can’t be considered one of the most powerful air forces in the world.
The Coast Guard and its aviation arm
“Nearly all Coast Guard aircraft have some role in homeland security operations, and some are now armed. The Coast Guard operates its aviation fleet on the principle that it cannot afford a fleet of aircraft intended solely for specialized missions, and has concentrated on aircraft that can carry out a wide range of diversified missions.” – US Coast Guard
Photo: United States Coast Guard
The Coast Guard has participated in almost every war the United States has fought since the earliest days of the founding of the United States (since the 1790 Quasi-War with France). It has an authorized strength of 44,500 active duty personnel and 7,000 reservists. Besides its fleet of around 250 notable ships (cutters, patrol ships, tenders, tugs, and icebreakers), its aviation division is made up of over 200 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
The Coast Guard states that it operates 202 fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. These aircraft operate to support the service’s work as a law enforcement arm, military service branch, and seafaring service. Some of the aircraft are armed, and most have a role in homeland security operations.
|
US Coast Guard |
|
|---|---|
|
Aircraft: |
202 (airplanes and helicopters |
|
Personnel: |
44,500 (active duty |
|
Notable ships: |
approx. 250 |
|
Budget: |
approx. $13.8 billion |
The Coast Guard operates from 24 Air Stations across the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Only a few of them are independent Coast Guard facilities, as most air bases are located at civilian airports. The Coast Guard is also active on other service branch air bases. Coast Guard aviators are trained alongside their Navy and Marine Corps counterparts at NAS Whiting Field in Florida and NAS Corpus Christi in Texas.
Photo: United States Coast Guard
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Coast Guard fixed-wing aircraft
The Coast Guard’s fixed-wing aircraft are managed by the Fixed-Wing & Sensors division (CG-7113).
The HC-130J Super Hercules and the HC-130H Hercules are the Coast Guard’s premier long-range surveillance aircraft. The older HC-130H fleet is progressively being replaced by the newer HC-130J Super Hercules.
|
US Coast Guard Aircraft Type |
Manufacturer |
Role |
Introduced |
Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
HC-27J Spartan – Airplane |
Alenia Aeronautica |
search and rescue |
2014 |
8 |
|
MH-65D Dolphin – Helicopter |
Eurocopter |
short range recorver |
1984 |
102 |
|
HC-144 Ocean Sentry – Airplane |
Lockheed Martin |
search and rescue |
2009 |
18 |
|
MH-60T Jayhawk – Helicopter |
Sikorsky |
medium range recovery |
1990 |
44 |
|
HC-130H Hercules – Airplane |
Lockheed Martin |
search and rescue |
1974 |
18 |
|
C-37A – Airplane |
Gulfstream |
priority airlift |
1998 |
2 |
|
HC-130J Hercules – Airplane |
Lockheed Martin |
search and rescue |
2003 |
9 |
The Hercules is not only the workhorse of the Coast Guard, it is regarded as the workhorse of the Coast Guard and is an all-purpose support craft. They have a variety of configurations to enable them to accomplish multiple missions. The primary roles of the aircraft are cargo, search and rescue, and passenger transportation. The Hercules has been in service for over 70 years and is still going strong.
Photo: United States Coast Guard
The newly acquired HC-27J Spartan is a maritime patrol aircraft flying reconnaissance missions for the Coast Guard. Its procurement was part of a deal to transfer HC-130H aircraft to the US Forest Service to increase the organization’s firefighting capabilities.
The Ocean Sentry also flies reconnaissance missions for the Coast Guard, including lifesaving and interdiction missions. It replaces the aging HU-25 fleet. The Gulfstream aircraft are the Coast Guard’s long-range command and control aircraft for transporting high-ranking officials and facilitating Coast Guard international business.
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Coast Guard helicopters
The Coast Guard’s helicopters are managed by the Rotary Wing & Special Missions division (CG-7112). The mainstay of the Coast Guard’s rotary wing fleet are the HH/MH-65 Dolphins that have been in service with the Coast Guard since the early 1980s. The Coast Guard states the Dolphin “…conducts all the bread-and-butter…operations: SAR, port patrol, maritime investigation, and interdiction.”
Another notable helicopter is the MH-60T Jayhwak, which is a derivative of the Army’s Blackhawk and based on the Navy’s Sh-60F helicopter. It is also a workhorse for SAR missions, routine patrols, and Homeland Security.
Photo: Gmeland | Shutterstock
The Coast Guard is also using drones (UAV), including the famous MQ-9 Reaper, for homeland security and search and rescue operations. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) cooperate in the Joint Program Office. In May 2024, the US Coast Guard reported saving four people using the MQ-9 Reaper drones.