COAST GUARD * AIRCRAFT

Sea Power, Jan 2004

MH-68A Stingray

BRIEFING: The Coast Guard selected the Agusta A-109 "Power" helicopter as the follow-on aircraft to the proof-of-concept MH-90 "Enforcer" for its armed helicopter program, which is designed to stop small high-speed smuggling vessels ("go-fasts") carrying narcotics bound for the United States. The MH-68A is an all-weather, short-range, interdiction helicopter deployable aboard Coast Guard cutters and operates in tandem with other maritime platforms to interdict go-fast boats. The last of eight MH-68As was delivered to the Coast Guard in August 2001. The helicopters-equipped with state-of-the-art systems to accomplish their missions-are operated by Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Jacksonville based in Jacksonville, Fla.

C-37A Gulfstream V

BRIEFING: A single C-37A aircraft assigned to Air Station Washington, D.C., serves as a long-range command-and-control aircraft that can be used to provide transportation for high-level Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security officials. The C-37A-which replaced a C-20B Gulfstream III in May 2002-is capable of nonstop flight to any location in the United States and many overseas locations with a range of 5,600 nautical miles.

VC-4A Gulfstream I

BRIEFING: A single VC-4A aircraft assigned to Air Station Miami, Fla., is used to provide logistics and passenger transportation throughout the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. A Gulfstream I acquired from NASA was modified to replace the VC-4A that had served since the 1960s and was grounded in 2001.