HC-235A To Enforce Homeland Security
On Thursday, Lockheed
Martin and aircraft maker EADS CASA rolled out the first production
airframe of the HC-235A medium-range surveillance maritime patrol
aircraft. Produced in Spain with substantial US content --
including avionics, propulsion and integrated subsystems -- the
HC-235A is the first new aircraft developed for the US Coast
Guard's Integrated Deepwater System program under contract to
Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS).
The first aircraft was unveiled at the EADS CASA plant in San
Pablo (Seville) at a ceremony attended by the US ambassador to
Spain, the vice commandant of the Coast Guard, and senior company
executives representing EADS CASA, EADS North America, Lockheed
Martin and ICGS, as well as various government officials from both
countries. This ceremony marked a significant milestone in
development and delivery of the new aircraft for the Coast
Guard.
"The HC-235A is an integral component of the Coast Guard's plan
for achieving enhanced maritime domain awareness," said Leo Mackay,
president of ICGS. "Linked with other Deepwater surface, air and
shore system assets through a common operating picture, the
aircraft becomes a vital node in the network to help the Coast
Guard fulfill its maritime surveillance mission requirements and
improve its overall homeland security capabilities."
"The American people depend on the Coast Guard to save lives, to
interdict illegal drugs and migrants, to secure the homeland and
more," said Vice Adm. Terry Cross, vice commandant of the Coast
Guard. "Mission success requires reliable ships, boats and aircraft
equipped with modern communications and sensor equipment. That is
precisely what our Deepwater program is about, and that is what
this aircraft will provide. We are pleased to reach this important
production milestone and look forward to taking delivery of the
first HC-235A in 2007, so we can put the aircraft to work."
"The entire EADS CASA
team is very pleased to celebrate with our partners of ICGS and the
US Coast Guard on the roll-out of the first HC-235A aircraft as
part of the Deepwater Program," said Francisco Fernandez Sainz,
chairman and CEO of EADS CASA. "An important milestone has been
reached today".
The HC-235A is manufactured by EADS CASA, under subcontract to
Lockheed Martin, for the Deepwater program.
The Coast Guard will use the HC-235A to perform search and
rescue missions, enforce laws and treaties including illegal drug
interdiction, marine environmental protection, military readiness,
and international ice patrol missions, as well as cargo and
personnel transport. The size, range and reconfiguration
capabilities will fully enable the execution of the multiple
missions performed by the Coast Guard.
The current Deepwater plan calls for production and system
integration of 36 aircraft through 2017. This first aircraft will
be completed and delivered to the Coast Guard's Aviation Training
Center in Mobile, AL, in spring 2007.