U.S. Coast Guard press release
They are the first two of six Fast Response Cutters (FRC) to be assigned to Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA). Additional cutters are planned for arrival in 2022 and 2023. The FRCs will replace the existing Coast Guard Island-class patrol boats Aquidneck and Adak.
The FRC program sent a transition team to support arrival of the new vessels including logistics deliveries and maintenance training.
PATFORSWA is the Coast Guard’s largest unit outside of the United States. Established in 2002 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, PATFORSWA plays a critical role in maritime security and maritime infrastructure protection operations. Its mission is to train, organize, equip, support and deploy combat-ready Coast Guard forces in support of U.S. Central Command and national security objectives.
The Sentinel-class FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment; over-the-horizon cutter boat deployment to reach vessels of interest; and improved habitability and seakeeping. The cutters are designed for multiple missions, including search and rescue; national defense; ports, waterways and coastal security; drug and migrant interdiction; and fisheries patrols.
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