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U.S. Coast Guard

HC-144A SAR overview HC-144A SAR mission capabilities Programme milestones

HC-144A SAR overview

When the U.S. Coast Guard’s Deepwater modernization program evaluated candidates for the service’s new medium-range maritime patrol aircraft, the CN-235 was a unanimous choice due to its versatility, cost-efficiency and the ability to perform a wide range of missions.

Coast Guard planning calls for the acquisition of up to 36 CN-235s (designated the HC-144A Ocean Sentry for the service’s operations), which will be used for search and rescue; homeland security missions; law enforcement duties – including fisheries, counter narcotics, pollution response; as well as cargo and personnel transport.

The CN-235-based platform was selected because of its excellent performance, operational effectiveness and low cost of ownership – attributes that are shared with the stretched-fuselage C-295 version, which is being offered for Canada’s Fixed Wing Search and Rescue (FWSAR) mission requirement.

With endurance in excess of 10 hours and a range of over 2,300 nautical miles, the HC-144A will significantly improve the U.S. Coast Guard's maritime patrol capabilities and enhance its overall mobility.

Mission flexibility of the Ocean Sentry is further enhanced by its rear cargo ramp, which is standard on Airbus Military's family of CN-235/C-295 military airlifters. This ramp enables the easy loading/unloading of the Coast Guard's palletized mission system (composed of a C4ISR pallet with two operator consoles) which, when installed, is linked to the mission equipment and sensors permanently integrated by Airbus Military on the maritime patrol aircraft. For airlift, cargo, and MEDEVAC missions, the palletized mission system is removed, freeing up the CN-235's large cabin. The rear ramp also can be opened in flight for the deployment of search-and-rescue equipment.

The HC-144A’s chin-mounted turret has a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, as well as a daylight CCD camera and daylight spotter scope. These systems are fully integrated with the aircraft's tactical mission system. Further aft on the HC-235A's under-fuselage is the aircraft’s multi-mode radar.

The HC-144A Ocean Sentry aircraft achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on April 2, 2009. Cleared for operational use by the Coast Guard’s Assistant Commandant for Capability (CG-7) under guidelines described by the service’s requirements documentation, the Ocean Sentry will perform a variety of tasks - including search and rescue, drug interdiction, migrant interdiction, other law enforcement and transport missions.

As of June 2009, the HC-144A acquisition project has delivered eight of 36 aircraft, along with three of 12 Mission System Pallets currently under contract.