General Dynamics [GD] said recently that the Coast Guard completed the 25,000th Rescue 21 search and rescue mission in Sector San Francisco, a major milestone for its system.
Rescue 21’s primary mission is to locate and assist mariners in distress. It operates 26 command centers and 179 towers while covering approximately 37,000 miles of coastline. Rescue 21 enables the Coast Guard to perform the functional tasks of command, control and communications along U.S. inland and coastal zones. The integrated system detects and locates distress calls and can detect hoax calls, avoiding unnecessary and expensive tasking of rescue personnel and resources.
Michael O’Hara, program manager for Rescue 21 for General Dynamics C4 Systems, said, “The Coast Guard is an integral part of the Department of Homeland Security. As new sectors are added to the Rescue 21 system, the Coast Guard is better equipped to perform both life-saving and homeland security missions with greater agility and increased efficiency.”