Security Levels

National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) check current status

News Releases

Home > News Releases > News 2008

Acquisition Update: Second HC-130H Receives Selex Seaspray 7500E Radar

May 14, 2008

On May 14, 2008, the Coast Guard began installation of its new Seaspray 7500E surface search radar on a second HC-130H aircraft. The Seaspray 7500E, built by Selex Galileo of Edinburgh, U.K., is a state-of-the-market, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. The new radar provides enhanced capabilities, such as greater reliability than its aging predecessor, the APS-137 radar; more advanced search features; and lower maintenance needs. In addition, the radar’s common software enables ease of future upgrades and prevents past challenges with obsolescence because it can be serviced by multiple vendors.
The 7500E prototype was installed on the first Coast Guard HC-130H in February 2007 by Pegasus, Inc., at its hangar facility in Kiln, Mississippi. Following an extensive and successful period of developmental and operational testing, including more than 450 hours of operation, the Coast Guard decided to install the Seaspray 7500E radar on its remaining 16 HC-130H aircraft.
Captain Doug Menders, Aviation Acquisition Program Manager, said, “We look forward to working with the Selex Galileo and Pegasus team to provide our aircrews with a capable and reliable airborne detection system for the Coast Guard’s long-range surveillance maritime patrol aircraft mission.”
Installation of the Seaspray 7500E is scheduled to be completed on the Service’s HC-130H aircraft in the fall of 2009. The Coast Guard will achieve full operational capability of the new radar during the first quarter of fiscal year 2010.

Download Plug-Ins

Download Plug-Ins: Some of the links on this page require a plug-in to view them. Links to the plug-ins are available below.

Adobe Acrobat Reader (PDF)

Last Modified 7/5/2012