Coast Guard lease of Gulfstream G-550 aircraft

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is looking to lease a Gulfstream G-550 aircraft to serve as a Command-and-Control aircraft to meet Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requirements. The service released a Combined Synopsis/Solicitation contract document on Friday that provides details for the lease.

The primary location of the aircraft will be U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Washington (ASW), located at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

The primary mission for ASW is the rapid, safe, and efficient transportation of passengers around the globe. The leased aircraft must be configured to provide global dual-band connectivity to facilitate unrestricted communication capabilities that provide the flexibility to maintain awareness of emergent situations, enable operational tasking, and perform normal duties while airborne.

DHS will be the primary user of the Long-Range Command and Control Aircraft (LRCCA).

The U.S. Coast Guard operates a fleet of LRCCA assets, primarily the C-37B Gulfstream G550, for transporting senior officials and serving as a command-and-control platform. These aircraft ensure continuous secure communications for coordinating operations and responding to contingencies.

“This transport will be used to respond to national and international emergencies in which DHS and USCG resources are needed, including environmental disaster relief operations (hurricane, flood, earthquake), marine environmental responses, major search and rescue operations, mass migrant interdictions, etc.,” the Coast Guard said in contract documents.

The USCG warns the aircraft “may incur greater wear and tear during the lease period than would be incurred via normal corporate operations, as it may be required to fly up to 50 hours per month.”

The lease will have a base period from June 1, 2025, to Sept. 30, 2025, with month-to-month options until May 31, 2026.