See which U.S. Coast Guard aircraft make up the main fleet, what each helicopter and aeroplane does, and which types deploy from cutters.
The U.S. Coast Guard’s main crewed aircraft are the MH-60T Jayhawk and MH-65 Dolphin helicopters; HC-130H/J Hercules, HC-144 Ocean Sentry and C-27J/HC-27J Spartan patrol aeroplanes; and C-37A/B Gulfstream transports. The mix supports search and rescue, maritime surveillance, law enforcement, logistics and command transport.
For Aviation & Real-World Flying readers, the key distinction is between an aircraft family and a specific variant. Coast Guard fleets are upgraded and replaced gradually, so two suffixes of the same basic type may appear in service records during a transition.
U.S. Coast Guard aircraft list
The operational fleet centres on two helicopter families, three surveillance-aeroplane families and a small long-range transport fleet.
| Aircraft | Category | Principal roles |
|---|---|---|
| MH-60T Jayhawk | Medium-range helicopter | Search and rescue, law enforcement, disaster response, transport and cutter deployments |
| MH-65 Dolphin | Light maritime helicopter | Search and rescue, cutter operations, coastal patrol and airborne use of force |
| HC-130H Hercules and HC-130J Super Hercules | Long-range aeroplane | Maritime patrol, long-distance search, command and control, cargo and personnel transport |
| HC-144 Ocean Sentry | Medium-range surveillance aeroplane | Maritime surveillance, search coordination, law enforcement and transport |
| C-27J/HC-27J Spartan | Medium-range surveillance aeroplane | Patrol, search and rescue support, logistics and mission-system operations |
| C-37A/B Gulfstream | Long-range transport | Command, senior-leader and rapid long-distance transport |
The Coast Guard is progressively concentrating more rotary-wing work on the MH-60 family, while the MH-65 remains associated with many coastal stations and shipboard missions. The latest Dolphin service configuration is the MH-65E; older A, C and D suffixes commonly appear in photographs, records and simulator add-ons. Our flyable HH-65A package for FS2002 and FS2004 represents one of those earlier configurations.
Which Coast Guard aircraft perform search and rescue?
The MH-60T and MH-65 normally perform the actual helicopter rescue, while fixed-wing aircraft search larger areas, direct other assets and provide communications support.
The MH-65 is smaller and particularly well suited to coastal stations and cutters. The larger MH-60T offers greater payload, cabin space and endurance for demanding offshore rescues. HC-130s cover broad ocean areas and can remain on scene to coordinate a search; HC-144 and Spartan crews perform similar surveillance and coordination work over medium ranges.
A common misconception is that a patrol aeroplane finds survivors and then lands to collect them. Modern Coast Guard fixed-wing aircraft generally locate, monitor and coordinate; a helicopter, cutter or other surface vessel makes the recovery.
Which Coast Guard aircraft can operate from cutters?
The MH-65 is the Coast Guard helicopter most closely associated with cutters, although MH-60Ts can use compatible ships with sufficiently large flight decks and support facilities.
Not every cutter can embark every helicopter. Deck dimensions, hangar clearance, aircraft weight, maintenance support and the ship’s assigned mission all matter. The HC-130, HC-144, Spartan and C-37 fleets are shore-based and do not operate from cutters.
Does the Coast Guard operate drones?
The Coast Guard also uses unmanned aircraft systems for surveillance, including small ship-launched systems on selected cutter deployments.
These do not fit neatly into a conventional fleet list. A system may be contractor-operated, attached only for a deployment or supplied through another government agency. When comparing inventories, check whether the source counts Coast Guard-owned aircraft, contracted systems and partner-agency support as separate categories.
Why do Coast Guard aircraft lists disagree?
Most conflicting lists mix operational aircraft with retired types, privately owned Auxiliary aircraft or variants being converted to a newer standard.
- HC-130H versus HC-130J: these are distinct generations serving the same broad long-range mission, not two names for an identical aeroplane.
- C-27J versus HC-27J: the HC prefix identifies a Spartan configured for Coast Guard search-and-rescue and surveillance duties; both labels may appear while aircraft are missionised.
- MH-65 suffixes: A through E identify successive Dolphin configurations. A simulator repaint may therefore depict the right aircraft family but the wrong period or equipment fit.
- Coast Guard Auxiliary aircraft: members can fly approved missions in privately owned civil aeroplanes, but those aircraft are not part of the active-duty government fleet.
A mistake we see constantly in simulator collections is treating every Coast Guard livery as a present-day operational type. The Coast Guard PBY Catalina for FSX depicts an important historic patrol-and-rescue flying boat, while the amphibious U206G Stationair model reflects earlier coastal utility operations. Neither belongs on a list of the main active crewed fleet.