Northrop Grumman's California Microwave Systems (CMS) business unit has delivered the last of a series of 15 upgraded HU-25 Falcon airborne surveillance aircraft to the U.S. Coast Guard. With the rollout of tail number 2105, a "D" variant of the HU-25, CMS completed a contract valued at $44 million that was awarded in March 2000. The company delivered nine "C+" variants - fitted with Northrop Grumman's AN/APG-66(V)2 radar - and then followed up with six HU-25Ds, which are equipped with Telephonics' AN/APS-143 inverse synthetic aperture radar. All 15 aircraft received new Wescam MX-15 forward-looking infrared sensors and Raytheon OASIS tactical workstations for USCG operators.

"The HU-25 sensor upgrade system provides the Coast Guard with an exponential improvement in mission performance and effectiveness," said Cmdr. Bill Hucke, chief of the USCG's Systems Management Division and program manager of the HU-25 upgrade program. "The fully integrated mission system markedly improves the crew's ability to detect, classify and identify targets of opportunity and prosecute the myriad of Coast Guard missions. This highly successful program provides a solid baseline for development of a mission system for future Deepwater assets."

The Deepwater program, a far-reaching acquisition project that will replace the Coast Guard's ships, aircraft, command and control, and logistics systems, was awarded to a Northrop Grumman - Lockheed Martin partnership in June 2002.

"The HU-25 Sensor Upgrade program exemplifies our commitment to customers in need of rapid turnaround of airborne surveillance systems in a complete package, including sensors, communications, platform overhaul and systems integration," said Robert M. Wise, CMS vice president of Airborne Systems. "We are proud to be a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Sensor Upgrade System team and we are honored to take part in improving our homeland security."

Cmdr. Hucke participated in the rollout ceremony at CMS's Hagerstown facility, along with Wise; Thomas A. Lupica, CMS vice president and general manager; and representatives of principal subcontractors Telephonics, Wescam, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. 

FMI: www.northropgrumman.com, www.uscg.mil