Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron

{{Infobox military unit | unit_name = Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron | image = HITRON Patch Logo Medium (MH65C 06-2011).png | image_size = 200px | caption = HITRON insignia | dates = 1999–Present | country = United States | allegiance = | branch = [[United States Coast Guard]] | type = Helicopter Squadron | role = Airborne Use of Force | size = | command_structure = | garrison = | garrison_label = [[Cecil Field]] | nickname = HITRON | patron = | motto = "Force from above" | colors = | colors_label = | march = | mascot = | equipment = | equipment_label = | battles = | anniversaries = | decorations = | battle_honours =  | commander1 = | commander1_label = Commanding Officer | commander2 = | commander2_label = Executive Officer | commander3 = | commander3_label = Command Master Chief | notable_commanders =  | identification_symbol = | identification_symbol_label = | identification_symbol_2 = | identification_symbol_2_label = | identification_symbol_3 = | identification_symbol_3_label = | identification_symbol_4 = | identification_symbol_4_label =  | aircraft_attack = | aircraft_bomber = | aircraft_electronic = | aircraft_fighter = | aircraft_interceptor = | aircraft_helicopter = [[HH-65 Dolphin|MH-65E]] | aircraft_recon = | aircraft_patrol = | aircraft_transport = }}

The '''Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron''' ('''HITRON''') is an [[Armed helicopter|armed]] [[United States Coast Guard]] [[helicopter]] [[squadron (aviation)|squadron]] specializing in Airborne Use of Force (AUF) and drug-interdiction missions. It is based at [[Cecil Field]] in [[Jacksonville, Florida]].<ref>[http://www.uscg.mil/LANTAREA/HITRON/default.asp USCG HITRON Jacksonville, Florida]</ref>

HITRON flew armed [[AgustaWestland AW109|Agusta MH-68A Stingray]] helicopters from December 2000<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IAX/is_4_86/ai_117626513 Ted Carlson. HITRON: one of a kind. Naval Aviation News May-June, 2004.]</ref> until February 2008. At that time, HITRON took on the mantle of the Atlantic Area Deployment Center, and began flying the [[MH-65C Dolphin]].<ref name=dykref>[http://usmilnet.com/smf/index.php?topic=11888.0;wap2 New Era of USCG Airborne Use of Force Capability Begins]</ref> The unit was formally commissioned in 1999 and as of January 2026 it had interdicted over 1,000 vessels resulting in seizures totalling over US$33.2 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Coast Guard Squadron Completes 1000th Drug Interception {{!}} Aero-News Network |url=https://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=A7DFC3D2-C68B-4540-9E42-A80BC634D99Cin%20Jacksonville,and%20other%20bulk%20illicit%20drugs. |access-date=2026-01-16 |website=www.aero-news.net}}</ref>

== Operations and tactics == [[File:HITRON MH-65C Fires warning shots.jpg|thumb|right|A HITRON MH-65C fires warning shots across the bow of a simulated [[Go-fast boat|go-fast]] during an exercise.]]

When conducting [[War on Drugs|counter drug operations]], HITRON aircrews will deploy aboard [[United States Coast Guard Cutter|Coast Guard cutters]] for thirty- to sixty-day [[Military deployment|deployments]]. While on deployment, [[go-fast boat]]s are searched for not only by the HITRON helicopter but also by shore based maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) such as the Coast Guard [[Lockheed HC-130|HC-130J Hercules]]. If an MPA locates a go-fast, the HITRON crew will launch from the cutter to intercept it. The crew will approach the suspect vessel with weapons trained on the vessel for self-protection. The helicopter crew will confirm the nationality or lack of nation status and whether the vessel is in fact a suspect [[smuggling]] vessel. The aircrew will then attempt to convince the boat crew to stop through the use of [[Siren (noisemaker)|sirens]], loud speakers, visual hand signals, and radio communications in both [[English language|English]] and [[Spanish language|Spanish]]. If the vessel stops during this phase, it will be [[Boarding (attack)|boarded]] and searched by a boarding team from the cutter which accompanies the chase in an [[Over the horizon boat|over-the-horizon pursuit boat]] and is vectored to the scene by the HITRON crew.<ref>[http://www.uscg.mil/LANTAREA/HITRON/default.asp USCG HITRON Jacksonville]</ref> If the vessel is found to be carrying [[narcotic|drugs]], the boarding team will take appropriate [[Law enforcement agency|law enforcement]] action.

If the suspect vessel fails to stop after numerous visual and verbal warnings, the helicopter crew will take up a firing position alongside the go-fast and the [[Air gunner|aerial gunner]] will fire [[warning shot]]s across their bow with the mounted [[M240 machine gun]] to further compel them to stop. If the warning shots do not convince the suspects to stop, the gunner will attempt to disable the vessel by shooting out its engines with a [[.50 BMG|.50 caliber]] precision rifle.<ref name=dykref/> Go-fasts usually have multiple [[Outboard motor|outboard engines]] and the gunner will continue to fire into these engines until the suspects stop or they are forced to stop. Once the vessel is stopped, it will be boarded by the over-the-Horizon boat's boarding team.<ref name="U.S. Coast Guard Aviation History">[http://www.uscg.mil/history/webaircraft/AC_HITRON_History.asp U.S. Coast Guard Aviation History]</ref><ref>[http://coastguardnews.com/hitron-snipers-taking-on-smugglers/2008/06/04/ HITRON Snipers Taking On Smugglers]</ref>

== History == [[File:MH68 USCG.jpg|thumb|[[Agusta A109|Agusta MH-68A Stingray]] formerly operated by HITRON]] [[File:US Coast Guard MH90 Enforcer.jpg|thumb|right|A [[MD Helicopters MD Explorer|MH-90 Enforcer]] flown by HITRON-10 in 1999.]] In 1998, the Coast Guard estimated that it was stopping less than ten percent of the illegal drugs entering the United States by sea. Spurred by these estimates, Admiral [[James Loy]], the then [[Commandant of the Coast Guard|Commandant]], directed the Coast Guard to develop a plan to counter the [[go-fast boat]]s used for smuggling drugs.

This gave rise to the HITRON. Starting in late 1998, [[Commander (United States)|Commander]] Mark 'Roscoe' Torres molded a group of ten volunteers into a cohesive and effective team, and in just seven months took ideas to reality as the squadron pioneered novel operating tactics and procedures. Flying leased [[MD Helicopters MD Explorer|MD900 and MD902 Enforcer]] helicopters, the unit developed and evaluated tactics and procedures for day and night operations.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3738/is_200208/ai_n9112198/?tag=content;col1|HITRON A model of success]</ref> Commander Roscoe worked closely with then LtCol Mark Mahaffey, Gunnery Sergeant Webb and Sgt Burkhardt from [[HMLA-269]], a [[United States Marine Corps]] helicopter squadron. The Marines worked with the Coast Guard aircrews with weapons employment and aerial tactics, which was instrumental in the Coast Guard Aircrews receiving Naval Aerial Gunner Qualifications. The training culminated in a live shoot in which the gunnery and flight operations worked flawlessly and allowed Coast Guard aircrews to actively engage Go-Fast drug boats with aerial weapons.

During this early proof of concept phase, HITRON-10 intercepted and stopped all five go-fasts they encountered, stopping the entry to the US of{{convert|2640|lb|0}} of [[cocaine]], and {{convert|7000|lb|0}} of [[marijuana]] with an estimated street value of over US$100 million, with all 17 suspects arrested. Due to their outstanding success during the test and evaluation stage, the HITRON-10 program was validated and designated a permanent Coast Guard unit, HITRON.<ref name="U.S. Coast Guard Aviation History"/>

The use of armed helicopters was originally classified but after proof of concept the existence of the unit was revealed in September 1999.

In 2014 the helicopters also operated from {{HNLMS|Holland|P840|6}}, a patrol vessel of the Royal Dutch Navy and stationed in the [[Netherlands Antilles|Dutch Antilles]]. <ref>http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=110689 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029211315/http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=110689 |date=2013-10-29 }} Coast Guard Visiual Information Gallery - Ceremony (For Release)</ref>

== Equipment == [[File:USCG pursuing gofast boat.jpg|thumb|right|A HITRON MH-68A pursues a go-fast boat during drug interdiction training.]]

===Aircraft=== The unit originally flew leased [[MD Helicopters MD Explorer|MD 900 and MD 902]] helicopters with the unofficial military designation of MH90 Enforcer. When the decision was made to make the squadron permanent and expand it to eight aircraft, Federal contracting laws required a competitive bid to choose a permanent aircraft for the mission.

In March 2000, [[Agusta]] was awarded the contract to provide eight [[AgustaWestland AW109|A109E Power]] helicopters to replace the MH90 Enforcers that HITRON had been successfully flying. The Agusta A109E Power was given the military designation MH-68A Stingray.<ref name="U.S. Coast Guard Aviation History"/>

In 2008 the Coast Guard allowed the lease for the MH-68As to expire and replaced them with the first of the new [[HH-65 Dolphin|MH-65C Dolphins]]. The MH-65C is an upgraded version of the HH-65B which includes, among other upgrades, new avionics and communications equipment and the ability to carry armament. While not as nimble as the MH-68A, the MH-65C is faster, has greater range and endurance, and provides a smoother ride, therefore allowing more accurate shooting. It also has the logistical advantage of being standardized throughout the Coast Guard.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.piersystem.com/posted/586/Nash_HITRON.219186.pdf |title=Faster, Stronger, Longer - The New MCH-65 |access-date=2009-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324055313/http://www.piersystem.com/posted/586/Nash_HITRON.219186.pdf |archive-date=2012-03-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Weapons=== [[File:HOMELAND SECURITY DVIDS1075230.jpg|thumb|HITRON member from Jacksonville, Fla., mans an M240 machine gun on board a Stingray MH-68A helicopter during a homeland security patrol around New York City]]

The squadron was originally armed with a mounted M240B machine gun for warning shots and self-protection. The bolt-action [[Robar RC-50]] [[.50 BMG|.50-caliber]] rifle was used for disabling fire. The RC-50 was equipped with a Trijicon Reflex sight as well as the [[AN/PEQ-2]] laser designator with infrared capability for nighttime operations. The Pilots and Gunners were armed with [[Beretta M9|Beretta M9s]] for self protection. The RC-50 has been replaced by a variant of the semiautomatic Barrett [[Barrett M82|M107]] .50-caliber rifle with an anti-corrosion finish.<ref>[https://archive.today/20091111190519/http://www.barrettrifles.com/home/news_articles.aspx?id=60 |Coast Guard Orders More Barrett M107 Rifle Systems]</ref> It is fitted with an [[EOTech]] holographic weapon sight and an [[Insight Technology]] laser sight. The [[M14 rifle|M14]] Tactical, a version of the standard M14 with a Sage Enhanced Battle Rifle stock and improved muzzle brake, is also used by the squadron.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=551457%7CCoast |title=Guard Visual Information Gallery |access-date=2020-01-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329132520/http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=551457%7CCoast |archive-date=2012-03-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also== * [[Law Enforcement Detachments]] * [[Deployable Specialized Forces]] * [[Office of Air and Marine|Air and Marine Operations]]

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== * [http://www.uscg.mil/lantarea/HITRON/default.asp USCG HITRON Jacksonville] * [https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/Naval%20Aviation%20News/2000/2004/may-june/hitron.pdf HITRON: One of a Kind] - ''Naval Aviation News'' (May–June 2003) * [https://cgaviationhistory.org/2003-airborne-use-of-force-coast-guard-arms-hh-65c-and-hh-60j-helicopters/ 2003 – Airborne Use of Force – Coast Guard Arms HH-65C and HH-60J Helicopters]

[[Category:Units and organizations of the United States Coast Guard]] [[Category:United States Coast Guard Aviation]] [[Category:Transportation in Jacksonville, Florida]] [[Category:1998 establishments in Florida]] [[Category:Police aviation units of the United States]] [[Category:Police tactical units]]