Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron
| Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron | |
|---|---|
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-65E |
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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.
HITRON flew armed Agusta MH-68A Stingray helicopters from December 2000 until February 2008. At that time, HITRON took on the mantle of the Atlantic Area Deployment Center, and began flying the MH-65C Dolphin. 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.