| Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron | |
|---|---|
.png){kind=logo} HITRON insignia | |
| Active | 1998–Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Coast Guard |
| Type | Helicopter Squadron |
| Role | Airborne Use of Force |
| Nickname(s) | HITRON |
| Motto(s) | "Force from above" |
| Aircraft flown | |
| Helicopter | MH-65D |
The Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) is an armed United States Coast Guard helicopter squadron specializing in Airborne Use of Force (AUF) and drug-interdiction missions. It is based at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida.[1]
HITRON flew armed Agusta MH-68A Stingray helicopters from December 2000[2] until February 2008. At that time, HITRON took on the mantle of the Atlantic Area Deployment Center, and began flying the MH-65C Dolphin.[3] The unit was formally commissioned in 1998 and as of March 2017 it had interdicted over 500 vessels resulting in seizures totalling over US$16.7 billion.[4]
- ^ USCG HITRON Jacksonville, Florida
- ^ Ted Carlson. HITRON: one of a kind. Naval Aviation News May-June, 2004.
- ^ New Era of USCG Airborne Use of Force Capability Begins
- ^ https://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2017/09/the-long-blue-line-hitron-20-years-of-hitting-new-highs/ Archived 2020-06-05 at the Wayback Machine The Long Blue Line: HITRON – 20 years of hitting new highs!