HERNDON, Va., Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Airbus Group Inc., formerly known as EADS North America, has delivered another maritime patrol aircraft to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The HC-144A Ocean Sentry, based on the Airbus CN235 tactical airlifter, is the first of three aircraft the Coast Guard is to receive this year from the company and brings its HC-144A fleet to 16 aircraft, operating from stations in Massachusetts, Alabama, and Florida.
"The Coast Guard competitively selected and is buying the HC-144A because it has proven to effectively and efficiently perform the broad range of demanding maritime patrol missions, including search and rescue, homeland security, disaster response and national defense," said Sean O'Keefe, chairman and chief executive officer of Airbus Group, Inc.
"The Department of Homeland Security recently recognized the Coast Guard's HC-144A maritime patrol aircraft program as the DHS Project of the Year, and we're proud to have worked with them to deliver this capability consistently on schedule and on cost."
The HC-144A is a twin-engine, medium range aircraft with a maximum speed of 272 miles per hour and an endurance of more than eight hours. It first became operational with the Coast Guard in 2008.
