The order was placed on September 24 through existing U.S. Air Force contracts with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Marietta, Georgia. Deliveries are expected to begin in fiscal 2028 and finish by the end of fiscal 2030.
The six aircraft will initially arrive in baseline C-130J configuration. Separate contracts will equip them for Coast Guard missions and establish their HC-130J designation.
The purchase continues the replacement of older aviation capabilities with aircraft offering greater performance. The Coast Guard said the C-130J’s advanced engines and propellers provide 20% greater speed and altitude and 40% greater range than the legacy C-130H.
HC-130Js carry out counterdrug operations, migrant interdictions and search-and-rescue recoveries. Their wider mission includes protecting U.S. borders and maritime approaches, supporting commerce and responding to crises.
“The HC-130J is the largest and most capable airlift asset for the Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security,” said Michael Haycock, director of systems integration. “Expanding our fleet supports the most critical Coast Guard missions and those of our DHS partners.”
The order also supports plans to expand operations to additional air stations. Sacramento, California, received its first HC-130J in July 2026.
The Coast Guard currently operates the aircraft from Elizabeth City, North Carolina; Kodiak, Alaska; and Barbers Point, Hawaii. Sacramento forms part of the service’s planned expansion of HC-130J operations.
The funding comes from the $1.412 billion provided for fixed-wing aircraft under the fiscal 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Coast Guard said the legislation supports a broader investment strategy for facilities, infrastructure and nationwide mission execution.
The service has awarded approximately $19 billion across reconciliation projects throughout the United States to date. The six-aircraft acquisition forms part of that wider modernization effort.
