U.S. Coast Guard's HC-144A Program Earns Acquisition Program of the Year From the Department of Homeland Security
HERNDON, VA--(Marketwired - Jun 14, 2013) - The U.S. Coast Guard's HC-144A Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft program has earned the Department of Homeland Security's Acquisition Program of the Year award. The award was presented June 13 to USCG personnel at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The DHS Program of the Year team award is given to the program that demonstrates excellence in the use of resources and innovative processes to deliver needed capabilities.
According to the award citation, the Coast Guard's HC-144A program "effectively and efficiently delivered planned capability to their customers within cost and schedule." The program was also praised for its innovative approach to controlling and avoiding risk, and for sharing improved processes with other offices.
"The HC-144A is playing a vital role in protecting Americans every day, and we congratulate the men and women of the United States Coast Guard for this award and their dedicated service," said Sean O'Keefe, EADS North America Chairman and CEO.
The HC-144A Ocean Sentry is based on the Airbus Military CN235 tactical airlifter, more than 230 of which are currently in operation by 29 countries. With the ability to remain airborne for more than ten hours, the Ocean Sentry is performing a wide spectrum of maritime patrol missions for the Coast Guard, including drug and migrant interdiction, disaster response, and search and rescue.
"During times of budgetary pressure, EADS North America and Airbus Military are proud to partner with the USCG delivering an extremely successful program like the HC-144A, with its demonstrated low operating cost and unbroken record of on-time and on-cost deliveries," said O'Keefe.
On May 31, EADS North America delivered the 15th aircraft on time and on budget. This aircraft will join a growing HC-144A fleet performing a range of different roles from Coast Guard Air Stations in Cape Cod, Mass., Mobile, Ala., and Miami.
The United States Coast Guard has three additional planes on order scheduled for delivery in 2013 and 2014. The Coast Guard acquisition plan calls for a fleet of 36 Ocean Sentries. The HC-144A achieved initial operational capability with the Coast Guard in 2008.
For more information, please visit:
www.uscg.mil/acquisition/MRS
www.eadsnorthamerica.com/north-america/usa/en/HC-144A/Overview.html
www.airbusmilitary.com/Aircraft/CN235/CN235About.aspx
About EADS North America
EADS North America is the U.S.-based operation of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense, and related services. EADS contributes more than $14 billion to the U.S. economy annually and supports over 225,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers. EADS North America, headquartered in Herndon, Va., offers a broad array of advanced solutions to meet U.S. military and commercial requirements, including fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, homeland security systems, public safety communications, defense electronics and avionics, and threat detection systems.
About Airbus Military
Airbus Military is the only military and civic/humanitarian transport aircraft manufacturer to develop, produce, sell and provide support and services for a comprehensive family of airlifters with a payload range of three to 45 tonnes. An Airbus subsidiary, Airbus Military is responsible for the A400M programme, the A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) and further military derivatives based on Airbus civil aircraft. These, together with the smaller 'Light & Medium' C295, CN235 and C212, make Airbus Military the global leader in the market for military transport, tanker and surveillance aircraft capable of performing the most varied types of missions. Altogether, Airbus Military has sold more than 1,000 aircraft to nearly 138 military, civil and governmental customers. More than 800 of these aircraft have been delivered. Airbus is an EADS company.
About EADS
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2012, the Group -- comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter -- generated revenues of EUR 56.5 billion and employed a workforce of over 140,000.
