LRS: Project Description
Upon completion, the long range surveillance (LRS) fleet will include 22 modernized aircraft: six new, fully missionized HC-130J "Super Hercules" aircraft, and 16 upgraded HC-130H "Hercules" aircraft.
Upgrading HC-130Hs
The in-service HC-130H is being upgraded with the proven, state-of-the-market SELEX Seaspray 7500E active electronically-scanned array surface search radar, replacing the outdated APS-137 multimission surveillance radar, which has become unreliable and costly to sustain. The Seaspray has proved itself early on, playing key roles in a number of search and rescue cases as well as counter-drug operations soon after being installed on the first HC-130H aircraft. In addition to the radar, the cockpit instrumentation and the center wing box will also be replaced to extend the service life of the aircraft.
Missionization of HC-130Js
The C-130J aircraft is staged and prepped to begin
missionization modifications. (Photo courtesy of
Integrated Coast Guard Systems and Coast Guard
Lt. Tony Ennamorato)
The HC-130J is the latest version in the C-130 “Hercules” product line. It features new Allison AE2100 engines and six-bladed Dowty propellers, giving it a 20 percent increase in speed and altitude and a 40 percent increase in range over the HC-130H model. A modern, integrated cockpit with a digital flight management system provides dual heads-up displays, ground-mapping radar, global positioning system and inertial navigation systems for superior situational awareness. The HC-130J can also be operated by a two-man flight crew (compared to four-to-five for the HC-130H), resulting in lower operating costs.
The HC-130J is the first C-130 in the world to feature a 360-degree, belly-mounted, multimode surface search radar, the Israel Aerospace Industries' EDO EL/M 2022A. An enhanced cargo-handling system allows loadmasters to automatically calculate weight and balance data and change the cargo compartment configurations to accommodate a variety of payloads.
Commonality with the Medium Range Surveillance Aircraft
The HC-130J Mission System components are the same as many of those installed on the Coast Guard’s medium range surveillance aircraft, the HC-144A “Ocean Sentry.” These components include FLIR systems EO/IR Star Safire III imaging system, Collins DF-430 multimission direction finding system, SAAB R4A airborne automatic identification system, as well as common mission operator station components, radios and system software.
Missionization
The first aircraft was inducted at the Lockheed Martin Greenville, SC facility in late December 2006 and underwent extensive modifications including installation of a belly-mounted surface search radar, nose-mounted electro-optical infrared sensor and a flight deck mission operator station.
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