U.S. Coast Guard delivers first HC-130J Super Hercules to Sacramento

The U.S. Coast Guard has delivered its first HC-130J Super Hercules patrol aircraft to Air Station Sacramento in California. The aircraft, registered as CGNR-2018, is the 18th missionized Super Hercules in the Coast Guard fleet.

Designed for heavy air transport and long-range maritime patrol, the HC-130J features capabilities for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. It can detect, classify, and identify objects, sharing real-time data with operational forces. The aircraft has a cruise speed of 320 knots, a range of 4,900 nautical miles, and an endurance exceeding 20 hours.

Vice Adm. Joseph Buzzella, commander of the Coast Guard Pacific Area, stated that the aircraft will be critical for detecting and interdicting migrant and narcotics flows through maritime approaches. This expansion is supported by $1.142 billion in fiscal 2025 budget reconciliation funding for fixed-wing aircraft.

A second HC-130J is currently undergoing missionization at L3Harris in Waco, Texas, with delivery to Sacramento expected in the spring of 2027.