The U.S. Coast Guard has forecast a follow-on requirement worth more than $100 million for L3Harris to install mission systems on four new production C-130J aircraft. The work supports long-range surveillance and border operations, with solicitation estimated for July 2027 and award anticipated in Q3 FY2028.
What's happening
- L3Harris, the incumbent, will missionize four C-130J aircraft: three for Coast Guard and one for Customs and Border Protection.
- Work involves installing the Minotaur Mission System Suite, radar, sensors, and communications equipment at L3Harris's Waco, Texas facility.
- Coast Guard published the forecast on DHS's acquisition planning system on September 21, 2026, with solicitation estimated July 12, 2027 and award in Q3 FY2028.
- Performance is scheduled through April 2, 2038, with optional scope for emerging requirements and diminishing manufacturing sources.
Why it matters
- Missionization consolidates separate sensor systems into a common open-architecture baseline, enabling real-time data sharing across platforms and improving operational effectiveness.
- The follow-on sustains production capacity at L3Harris's Waco facility, which has delivered 18 fully missionized aircraft as of February 2026 and continues accepting aircraft from Lockheed Martin production.
- Coast Guard operates HC-130J for search and rescue, drug and migrant interdiction, and law enforcement from three air stations with expansion planned to Sacramento; the service has appropriations for 25 total aircraft.
Going deeper
- Minotaur is a government-owned system combining radar, sensors, command and control, and ISR equipment into a single baseline that allows aircrews to collect and process surveillance data in flight.
- The HC-130J is a long-range search-and-rescue variant of the C-130J with cruising speed of 320 knots, range of 4,900 nautical miles, and endurance beyond 20 hours.
- L3Harris held the firm-fixed-price incumbent contract awarded in September 2015 at $151.9 million, running through January 2024, establishing continuity for the follow-on effort.
Financial impact
- L3Harris will recognize revenue over the period of performance from award in Q3 FY2028 through April 2038, with obligated funds determined at contract award.
- The $100 million+ ceiling value includes optional scope for emerging requirements and diminishing manufacturing sources mitigation; actual obligated amount will be specified in the Q3 FY2028 contract award.
The fine print
- This is a forecast of a follow-on requirement; solicitation is estimated for July 12, 2027 and award is anticipated but not guaranteed in Q3 FY2028.
- The forecast includes optional scope for additional aircraft beyond the base four and for addressing supply chain risks, which may expand the final contract value.
- Work is a joint requirement with CBP's Air and Marine Operations, with one of the four base aircraft allocated to CBP.
Source: GovCon Wire · Sep 21, 2026 · Drafted with Claude, reviewed by Industrial Base Alpha.