Admiral Lunday Discusses Coast Guard Investments in Unmanned Aircraft and Disaster Response

Investment in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

• 💰 The "One Big Beautiful Bill" allocated $24.6 million for Coast Guard investments, including $266 million for long-range unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).
• 🎯 Admiral Lunday plans to strategically utilize these new UAS assets to enhance missions, particularly in drug and migrant interdictions.
• ✈️ The Coast Guard has experience with MQ9 aircraft through a joint program with Customs and Border Protection and is currently prototyping a shorter-range but still effective UAS off San Diego.
• 💡 The goal is to acquire UAS capabilities that can be deployed at speed and scale.

Aviation Logistics Center and Fleet Modernization

• 🛠️ The "One Big Beautiful Bill" also includes $2.2 billion for depot-level maintenance facilities and $3.4 billion for new MH60 helicopters and C130J airplanes.
• 🧑‍🔧 The Aviation Logistics Center (ALC) in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, the Coast Guard's only depot-level aviation maintenance facility, will be crucial for supporting these investments.
• ⚙️ Up to $80 million has already been allocated to the ALC for current readiness gaps, including restocking critical parts for fixed and rotary-wing aircraft.
• 🚁 The ALC will also support the missionization and maintenance of up to 40 MH60 helicopters and six C130Js.

Disaster Response Capabilities

• 🌊 The Coast Guard demonstrated strong disaster response capabilities during Hurricane Helen, saving approximately 21 lives along the Gulf Coast.
• 🚁 For inland disasters, the Coast Guard utilizes helicopters and air crews to assist states when requested, as seen in central Texas flooding.
• 🚤 The service also operates small skiffs with outboard motors for inland flood response, which are available for rapid deployment.
• 🤝 Admiral Lunday affirmed the Coast Guard's authority and readiness to provide assistance during inland disasters when requested.