L3Harris is completing final activities to deliver another HC-130J aircraft to the U.S. Coast Guard following the completion of Minotaur Mission Systems Suite (MSS+) integration, representing sustained momentum and disciplined execution at scale. This is the fourth missionized aircraft delivered ahead of schedule, arriving two months early as part of the Coast Guard’s HC-130J fleet expansion efforts.
These early deliveries reflect a deliberate focus on performance, quality and schedule – priorities that closely align with the federal government’s requirements. Together, they signal what is possible when execution is repeatable, production is reliable and mission outcomes come first.
Minotaur Mission System Suite (MSS+)
The HC-130J aircraft are upgraded with a Minotaur Mission System Suite (MSS+), providing a cost-effective standard mission system for simplified training, sustainment and future upgrades while establishing a common, interoperable configuration and capability across the fleet. MSS+ is the government’s non-proprietary, open-architecture airborne mission system software and hardware solution. L3Harris is a developer and integrator of this technology through mission system integration and technical expertise for airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, including sensors such as the AN/APY-11 radar and aircraft missionization to field MSS+ across multiple platforms.
The system fuses sensors, radar, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment into a single operational baseline. It gathers and processes information in flight and enables data to be transmitted to other platforms and units in real-time.
Before adopting MSS+, the U.S. Coast Guard’s HC-130J aircraft relied on multiple platform-specific sensor systems, with very limited capacity to share information off aircraft with other operational assets or decision-makers.
Investing to Deliver at Scale
To sustain performance as program volumes grow, L3Harris continues to invest in its workforce, facilities and technical infrastructure, expanding and modernizing production in Waco, Texas. The company is also advancing an operating model that strengthens accountability, execution discipline and decision-making as MSS+-enabled aircraft are delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard.
