Airbus Delivers HC-144A Maritime Patrol Aircraft To US Coast Guard

Airbus has delivered the 18th HC-144A Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft to the US Coast Guard, the company said in a statement.

The Ocean Sentry is based on the Airbus CN235 tactical airlifter with more than 235 currently in operation by 29 countries.

The latest HC-144A will join a fleet of Ocean Sentries operating from Coast Guard Air Stations in Cape Cod, Mass.; Mobile, Ala.; Miami and most recently Corpus Christi, Texas. This month Air Station Corpus Christi turned over the maritime patrol mission to the HC-144 after the retirement of the last HU-25 Guardian aircraft.

“Airbus  is dedicated to supporting the U.S. Coast Guard’s HC-144A fleet and will provide technical engineering services and spare parts for decades to come,” said Mike Cosentino president of Airbus Defense and Space. “The ease of maintenance and low operating costs have allowed the Coast Guard to achieve exceptional operational effectiveness and reliability with the HC-144A.”