USCG’s HC-130J aircraft to feature ITT-built AN/APY-11 radar

The US Coast Guard (USCG) has awarded a contract to ITT Exelis to supply an AN/APY-11 multimode radar system for integration onboard its HC-130J Super Hercules long-range surveillance aircraft.

Under the $6.5m contract, the company will provide the radar system to help support the service’s maritime reconnaissance missions.

Developed by ITT Exelis and ELTA Systems, the AN/APY-11 multimode radar was first delivered to the Coast Guard under a 2005 contract award.

Exelis Electronic Attack & Release Systems business Defense Systems Programs director Peter Martin said that the multimode maritime surveillance radar will help meet evolving operational requirements of Coast Guard effectively.

The AN/APY-11 multimode radar has been designed to support USCG’s missions such as long-range surveillance, drug interdiction and counter-terrorism.

The belly-mounted 360-degree long-range search radar is also used to support the mapping of oil spills of national significance (SONS) as well as to intercept drug smugglers, locate stranded boats and track ice in the North Atlantic.

The AN/APY-11 also features dynamic classification of all ship targets and merging targets with AIS and IFF data.

Lockheed Martin-built HC-130J aircraft has been designed to provide long-range maritime patrol capability unlike a medium range surveillance aircraft or cutters that cannot be patrolled efficiently in some areas.

The aircraft will also be used to conduct heavy air transport of maritime safety and security teams, port security units, and National Strike Force personnel and equipment.