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The Integrated Deepwater System: A Long-Term Approach to Re-capitalize Coast Guard Aviation |
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(Source: Frost & Sullivan; issued Oct. 6, 2004)
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The Integrated Deepwater System (IDS) team has made substantial strides towards the full implementation of a comprehensive, long-term approach to modernize and recapitalize the U.S. Coast Guard’s aircraft inventory. Legacy aviation assets that are expensive to operate and maintain will be progressively retired as new or modernized designs are introduced — including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The U.S. Coast Guard faces a compelling and urgent requirement to recapitalize its aging and increasingly technologically obsolete rotary - and fixed-wing aircraft. Coast Guard’s aging force faces increased operational demands, escalating maintenance costs, and lower operational effectiveness in a number of areas. These trends are especially worrisome in light of the operational requirements associated with today’s high-priority homeland security, national defense, and search-and-rescue missions.
Infusions of funding for operations and maintenance during the past three years have restored some readiness rates to more stable levels, but problems persist. The workhorse HH-65 Dolphin helicopter, for example, is experiencing an unacceptable level of in-flight power losses—leading to the Coast Guard’s decision this spring to commence a high-priority program to replace its engines. Upgrades to aircraft sensors have improved operational capabilities in a number of other areas, but shortfalls still exist in fielding secure, fully interoperable communications and data-exchange systems. The Deepwater Program will remedy these deficiencies.
In May 2003, Adm. Thomas H. Collins, the commandant of the Coast Guard, announced the CASA 235-300M as the best choice for the Medium Range Surveillance (MRS) Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA). The CASA 235-300M has the capability to perform aerial delivery for search-and -rescue equipment such as rafts, pumps, and flares, and it can serve an aerial plafform for on-scene commanders as the result of being outfitted with the IDS command-and-control system. Coupled with its state-of-the-art C4ISR suite, the aircraft will be particularly effective at locating targets in a large search area and vectoring prosecution assets to the target. The CASA is currently in the concept and technology development phase in the Deepwater acquisition.
Today’s force of HC-130H search-and-surveillance aircraft will be reduced, but the remaining aircraft will be upgraded with improved command-and-control capabilities to ensure full interoperability with other IDS platforms.
The Deepwater aviation plan also includes the introduction of the Coast Guard’s first UAVs when the Maritime Security Cutter, Large (WMSL, formerly the National Security Cutter) enters service in 2007. In February 2003, Bell Helicopter was awarded a contract to commence concept and preliminary design work on its Eagle Eye vertical takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (VUAV). VUAV’s will be deployed aboard the two largest classes of new Deepwater cutters and the legacy Famous-class medium endurance cutters.
The proposed Northrop Grumman RQ-4A Global Hawk High Altitude Endurance (HAE) UAV will bring even further capability to the Coast Guard aviation solution in the next decade. With its 12,500-nautical-mile range, 38-hour endurance, and satellite and line-of-sight communication links to other air and surface platforms and operations centers ashore, the Global Hawk (operating at an altitude of 65,000 feet) can use its high-resolution sensors to conduct surveillance and monitoring operations in adverse weather conditions, day or night, over broad maritime areas.
Under the current IDS plan, legacy Coast Guard helicopters now in service will be fitted with improved landing gear, new mission-computer units and radar, engine, transmission, fuel and avionics system upgrades. The upgrades will increase the maximum takeoff weight, range and endurance. Nearly all of the fleet’s HH-60J helicopters will also be upgraded with improved radar and new avionics to allow the Jayhawks to remain in service until the last is retired in 2022. The proposed aircraft that will relieve the time-tested Jayhawks will be the Bell-Augusta Aerospace AB-139 VTOL Recovery and Surveillance (VRS) helicopter. The VRS is a medium-range, twin-engine helicopter designed from the ground up to meet the unique demands of high-risk operating environments.
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