US Coast Guard orders four MQ-9B drones and six C-130Js

The US Coast Guard ordered four MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft and six C-130J transports. The MQ-9B is the service's first large uncrewed platform.

According to the service on 9 October, the uncrewed order went to manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems through an existing contract held by US Customs and Border Protection. The MQ-9B succeeds the MQ-9A Reaper, which has flown intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike missions. Unlike the earlier model, the MQ-9B is certified for operations in civilian airspace. The service said this makes it attractive to law enforcement and emergency response agencies as well as military operators. The aircraft comes in land-based SkyGuardian and maritime SeaGuardian variants.

Anthony Antognoli, assistant commandant of the US Coast Guard, said the long-range systems would extend the service's reach and improve its ability to protect the nation. The investment, he said, would give crews a longer-range view of the maritime domain, allowing earlier detection of threats and faster decisions.

The Coast Guard plans to use the aircraft for monitoring offshore waters, border and critical infrastructure protection, search and rescue, counter-narcotics work and efforts against illegal and unregulated fishing. Deep-sea reconnaissance and intelligence collection are also listed among the mission sets.

The acquisitions form part of a $3 billion recapitalisation of the Coast Guard's aviation fleet. Adding the six HC-130Js would bring the service's fleet of long-range reconnaissance transports to 25 aircraft.

The Coast Guard already operates smaller uncrewed aircraft, including Shield AI's V-Bat, which launches and lands vertically from its cutter vessels.