| AC-130 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) An AC-130J gunship from the4th Special Operations Squadron | |
| General information | |
| Type | Ground-attack aircraft andclose air supportgunship for SOF teams |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin Boeing |
| Status | In service (AC-130J) |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| History | |
| Introduction date | |
| First flight | AC-130A: 1967 |
| Retired | |
| Developed from | |
TheLockheed AC-130gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance,ground-attack variant of theC-130 Hercules transport,fixed-wing aircraft. It carries a wide array of ground-attack weapons that are integrated withsensors,navigation, andfire-control systems. Unlike other modern military fixed-wing aircraft, the AC-130 relies on visual targeting. Since its large profile and low operating altitudes around 7,000 feet (2,100 m) make it an easy target, itsclose air support missions are usually flown at night.[7]
The airframe is manufactured byLockheed Martin, whileBoeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support.[8] Developed during theVietnam War as "Project Gunship II", the AC-130 replaced theDouglas AC-47 Spooky, or "Gunship I". The sole operator is theUnited States Air Force, which uses theAC-130J Ghostrider. Close air support roles include supporting ground troops, escortingconvoys, and urban operations. Air-interdiction missions are conducted against planned targets and targets of opportunity. Force-protection missions include defendingair bases and other facilities. AC-130Js are based atHurlburt Field, Florida andCannon AFB,New Mexico;[9] gunships can be deployed worldwide.[10] The squadrons are part of theAir Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), a component of theUnited States Special Operations Command.[11]
The AC-130 has anunpressurized cabin, with the weaponry mounted to fire from theport side of the fuselage. During an attack, the gunship performs apylon turn, flying in a large circle around the target, so is able to fire at it for far longer than in a conventionalstrafing attack. The AC-130H Spectre was armed with two20 mmM61 Vulcan cannons, oneL/60 Bofors 40 mm cannon, and M137105 mm cannon and M37 recoil mechanism from theM102 howitzer; after 1994, the20 mm cannons were removed. The upgraded AC-130U Spooky has a25 mmGAU-12 Equalizer cannon in place of the Spectre's two20 mm cannons, an improved fire-control system, and increased ammunition capacity.[citation needed] The new AC-130J was based on theMC-130J Commando II special-operations tanker. The AC-130W Stinger II is a modified C-130H with upgrades including a precision strike package.[3]
During the Vietnam War, theC-130 Hercules was selected to replace theDouglas AC-47 Spooky gunship (Project Gunship I) to improve mission endurance and increase capacity to carry munitions. Capable of flying faster than helicopters and at high altitudes with excellentloiter time, the use of the pylon turn allowed the AC-47 to deliver continuous, accurate fire to a single point on the ground.[12][13]
In 1967, JC-130A 54-1626 was selected for conversion into the prototype AC-130A gunship (Project Gunship II). The modifications were done atWright-Patterson Air Force Base by the Aeronautical Systems Division. A direct-viewnight-vision telescope was installed in the forward door, an earlyforward-looking infrared device was placed in the forward part of the left wheel well, with miniguns and rotary cannons fixed facing down and aft along the left side. Theanalogfire-control computer prototype was handcrafted by Wing Commander Tom Pinkerton at the USAF Avionics Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB. Flight testing of the prototype was performed primarily atEglin Air Force Base, followed by further testing and modifications. By September 1967, the aircraft was certified ready for combat testing and was flown toNha Trang Air Base,South Vietnam, for a 90-day test program.[12] The AC-130 was later supplemented by theAC-119 Shadow (Project Gunship III), which later proved to be underpowered.
Seven more airframes were converted to the "Plain Jane" configuration like the AC-130 prototype in 1968,[14] and one aircraft received the "Surprise Package" refit in 1969.[15] The Surprise Package upgrade included the latest20 mm rotary autocannons and40 mm Bofors cannon, but no 7.62 mm close-support armament. The Surprise Package configuration served as a test bed for the avionic systems and armament for the AC-130E. In 1970, 10 more AC-130As were acquired under the "Pave Pronto" project.[16] In the summer of 1971, Surprise Package AC-130s were converted to the Pave Pronto configuration and assumed the new nickname of "Thor". Conversion of C-130Es into AC-130Es for the "PAVE Spectre" project followed.[17][18] Regardless of their project names, the aircraft were more commonly referred to by the squadron's call sign, Spectre.[citation needed]
In 2007, AFSOC initiated a program to upgrade the armament of AC-130s. The test program planned for the 25 mm GAU-12/U and 40 mm Bofors cannon on the AC-130U gunships to be replaced with two30 mm Mk 44Bushmaster II cannons.[19] In 2007, the Air Force modified four AC-130U gunships as test platforms for the Bushmasters. These were referred to as AC-130U Plus 4 or AC-130U+4. AFSOC, however, canceled its plans to install the new cannons on its fleet of AC-130Us. It has since removed the guns and reinstalled the original 40 mm and 25 mm cannons and returned the planes to combat duty.[20] Brigadier General Bradley A. Heithold, AFSOC's director of plans, programs, requirements, and assessments, said on 11 August 2008 that the effort was canceled because of problems with the Bushmaster's accuracy in tests "at the altitude we were employing it". Also, schedule considerations drove the decision, he said.[21]
Plans were made for the possible replacement of the 105 mmM102 howitzer with abreech-loading variant of the 120 mmM120 mortar. The 120mm breech-loading mortar concept offers more flexibility with the use of munitions that are currently available with greater lethality, precision strike capabilities, reduction in collateral damage, and decreased casualties in danger close scenarios. Also, using the newerAGM-114 Hellfire missiles, theAdvanced Precision Kill Weapon System (based on theHydra 70 rockets), or theViper Strikeglide bombs can dramatically increase the standoff capability of the AC-130.[22]
The conceptual breechloading variant of the 120 mm M120 mortar has several key advantages over the conventional M102 105 mm howitzer. 100 rounds of ammunition weighs 4,200 lb (1,900 kg) for the M102 105 mm howitzer compared to 3,200 lb (1,500 kg) for the M120 120 mm mortar. The recoil load is 10,900 lbf (48,000 N) with the 105 mm howitzer compared to 5,600 lbf (25,000 N) with the M120 120 mm mortar. The gun recoiling weight for the M102 105 mm howitzer is 1,465 lb (665 kg) compared to 1,315 lb (596 kg) for the M120 120 mm mortar. The muzzle pressure for the M102 105 mm howitzer is 3,560 psi (24.5 MPa) compared to 1,620 psi (11.2 MPa) for the M120 120 mm mortar.[citation needed]
In 2010, the Air Force awardedL-3 Communications a $61 million (~$83.2 million in 2023) contract to add precision strike packages to eightMC-130W Combat Spear special-mission aircraft[23] to give them a gunship-like attack capability; such-equipped MC-130Ws are known as Dragon Spears. AFSOC is arming these aircraft to relieve the high operational demands on AC-130 gunships until new AC-130Js enter service.[24] The MC-130W Dragon Spear was renamedAC-130W Stinger II in 2011.[25] The precision strike packages consist of a 30 mm gun and severalprecision guided munitions. Rails are mounted on the outboard pylon of the wing for four Hellfire missiles, SDBs, orSDB IIs under each. Ten common launch tubes (CLTs) are mounted on the rear ramp to fireGriffin A missiles; additional missiles are stored in the aircraft that can be reloaded in flight.[26] CLTs are able to fire other small munitions able to fit inside the 6-inch (15 cm)-diameter, 48-inch (1.2 m)-long tubes.[27]
The AC-130J Ghostrider came from a 2011 initiative that sought to acquire 16 new gunships based on newly built MC-130J Commando II special-operations tankers outfitted with a "precision strike package" to give them an attack capability, requesting $1.6 billion from fiscal years 2011 through 2015. This was to increase the size of the gunship fleet to 33 aircraft, a net increase of eight after the planned retirement of eight aging AC-130Hs. The first aircraft would be bought in fiscal 2012, followed by two in fiscal 2013, five in fiscal 2014, and the final eight in fiscal 2015.[28] The decision to retain the C-130 came after funding for 16C-27Js was removed from the fiscal 2010 budget.[29]
The AC-130J was to follow the path of theDragon Spear program.[30] On 9 January 2013, the Air Force began converting the first MC-130J into an AC-130J.[31] The first AC-130J was delivered to AFSOC on 29 July 2015.[32] The first AC-130J gunships achieved initial operational capability (IOC) on 30 September 2017.[33] The AC-130J has two planned increments: the Block 10 configuration includes an internal 30 mm gun, small diameter bombs, and laser-guided missiles launched from the rear cargo door; and Block 20 configuration adds a 105 mm cannon, large aircraftinfrared countermeasures, wing-mounted Hellfire missiles, and radio-frequency countermeasures.[34]
The Air Force decided to add a 105 mm cannon to the AC-130J in addition to the 30 mm cannon and smart bombs, the shells being more accurate and cheaper than dropping SDBs. AFSOC also pursued adirected-energy weapon on board the AC-130J by 2022,[35][36] similar to the previousAdvanced Tactical Laser program. It was to produce a beam of up to 120 kW, or potentially even 180–200 kW, weigh about 5,000 lb (2,300 kg), defensively destroy antiaircraft missiles, and offensively engage communications towers, boats, cars, and aircraft.[37][38][39] A laser armament would have only been installed on a few aircraft rather than the entire AC-130J fleet;[40] the laser would be mounted on the side in place of the 30 mm cannon.[41] AFSOC eventually ruled out the idea in 2024 after the project was delayed by years,[42] determining that placing a laser out the side of the airframe would yield so much air turbulence that it would disrupt the beam.[43] In addition to this, while the laser weapon on the Lockheed AC-130 turned out to be a failure, Lockheed has been examining concepts for the integration of the laser module system onto the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, he said. Other potential additions include anactive denial system to perform airborne crowd control, and smallunmanned aerial vehicles from the CLTs to provide remote video feed and coordinates to weapons operators through cloud cover.[44] Called the Tactical Off-board Sensor (TOBS), the drones would be expendable and fly along a programmed orbit to verify targets the aircraft cannot see itself because of bad weather or standing off from air defenses.[39][40] AFSOC was to initially use theRaytheon Coyote small UAV for the TOBS mission, as it is anoff-the-shelf design with a one-hour endurance, but planned to fulfill the role with a new drone capable of a four-hour endurance by 2019.[27]
The Air Force was also interested in acquiring a glide bomb that can be launched from the CLTs, capable of hitting ground vehicles traveling as fast as 120 km/h (70 mph) while above 10,000 ft (3,000 m).[45] In June 2016,Dynetics was awarded a contract by SOCOM to integrate its tactical munition onto the AC-130. Designated the GBU-69/B Small Glide Munition, the weapon weighs 27 kg (60 lb) and is armed with a 16-kilogram (35 lb) blast-fragmentation warhead that can detonate by direct impact or at a selected height; despite being smaller, being unpowered allows for its warhead to be heavier than those on the Hellfire and Griffin A missiles, 9 kg (20 lb) and 5.9 kg (13 lb), respectively. Guidance is provided by a GPS receiver with anti-spoofing software and four distributed-aperturesemiactive laser seeker apertures adapted from theWGU-59/B APKWS for terminal guidance.[46][47][48] Approval for fielding occurred in early 2017.[49] Dynetics was awarded a contract to deliver an initial batch of 70 SGMs in June 2017, with plans to buy up to 1,000.[50] The SGM can travel 20 mi (32 km).[51]
As of 2023[update], AC-130 gunships have been providing close air support for special operators for 56 years. Although the aircraft have been kept relevant through constant upgrades to their weaponry, sensor packages, and countermeasures, they are not expected to be survivable in future nonpermissive environments due to their high signatures and low airspeeds. Military analysts, such as theCenter for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, have suggested that AFSOC invest in more advanced technologies to fill the role to operate in future contested combat zones, including a mix of low-cost disposable unmanned and stealthy strike aircraft.[52] AFSOC is considering a number of changes to the AC-130J in order to make it effective against advanced adversaries including removing the105mm cannon and upgrading the aircraft with smallcruise missiles, anAESA radar, and adaptive mission networking enhancements.[43]
The AC-130 is a heavily armed, long-endurance aircraft carrying an array of weapons against ground targets that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and fire-control systems. It is capable of delivering precision firepower or area-saturation fire over a target area over a long period of time, at night, or in adverse weather. The sensor suite consists of an electro-optical image sensor,infrared sensor, andradar. These sensors allow the gunship to visually or electronically identify friendly ground forces and targets in most weather conditions.
The AC-130U is equipped with theAN/APQ-180, asynthetic aperture radar, for long-range target detection and identification. The gunship's navigational devices includeinertial navigation systems and aglobal positioning system. The AC-130U employs technologies developed in the 1990s, which allow it to attack two targets simultaneously. It has twice themunitions capacity of the AC-130H.[8] Although the AC-130U conducts some operations in daylight, most of its combat missions are conducted at night.[53] The AC-130H's unit cost is US$132.4 million, and the AC-130U's cost is $190 million (fiscal 2001 dollars).[11]
During the Vietnam War era, the various AC-130 versions following the Pave Pronto modifications were equipped with amagnetic anomaly detector system called Black Crow (designated AN/ASD-5), a highly sensitive passive device with aphased-arrayantenna located in the left-front noseradome that could pick up localized deviations in theEarth's magnetic field normally used to detect submergedsubmarines. The Black Crow system wasslaved into the targeting computers of the AC-130A/E/H, enabling the detection of the unshieldedignition coils of North Vietnamese trucks hidden under dense jungle foliage along theHo Chi Minh trail. It could also detect hand-held transmitter signals of air controllers on the ground to identify and locate targets.
The PGM-38/U enhanced 25 mmhigh-explosive incendiary round was created to expand the AC-130U gunships' mission in standoff range and survivability for its 25 mmGAU-12/U gun. This round is a combination of the existing PGU-25 HEI and a M758 fuze designated as FMU-151/B to meet the MIL-STD-1316. The FMU-151 has an improved arming delay with multisensitive range.[54]
The AC-130 gunship first arrived in South Vietnam on 21 September 1967 under the Gunship II program and began combat operations over Laos and South Vietnam that same year. In June 1968, AC-130s were deployed toTan Son Nhut AB near Saigon for support against theTet Offensive. By 30 October 1968, enough AC-130 Gunship IIs arrived to form a squadron, the16th Special Operations Squadron of the8th Tactical Fighter Wing, atUbon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. At this time, the C-130A gunship was designated the AC-130A.
On 18 August 1968, an AC-130 gunship flying an armed reconnaissance mission in Vietnam's III Corps was diverted to support theKatum Special Forces Camp. The ground commander quickly assessed the accurate fire and capabilities of this weapons system and called for fire on his own perimeter when the Viet Cong attempted to bridge the wire on the west side of his position.
By December 1968, most AC-130s flew underF-4 Phantom II escort (to protect the gunship against heavy and concentrated antiaircraft fire) from the 497th Tactical Fighter Squadron, normally three Phantoms per gunship. On 24 May 1969, the first Spectre gunship was lost to enemy fire.[55]
In late 1969, under code name "Surprise Package", 56-0490 arrived with solid-state, laser-illuminated, low light-level TV with a companion YAGlaser designator, an improved forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, video recording for TV and FLIR, aninertial navigation system, and a prototype digital fire-control computer. The remaining AC-130s were refitted with upgraded similar equipment in the summer of 1970, and then redeployed to Ubon RTAFB. On 25 October 1971, the first "Cadillac" gunship, the AC-130E, arrived in Vietnam. On 17 February 1972, the first105mm cannon arrived for service with Spectre and was installed on Gunship 570. It was used from mid-February until the aircraft received battle damage to its right flap. The cannon was switched to Gunship 571 and was used until 30 March when the aircraft was shot down.
| Date | Gunship model | Unit | Cause of loss / remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 May 1969 | AC-130A | 16th Special Operations Squadron | Downed by37 mm anti-aircraft artillery (AA) at 6,500 ft (2,000 m) while onreconnaissance for enemy trucks[56] |
| 22 April 1970 | AC-130A | 16th SOS | Downed while truck hunting by 37 mm AA[57] |
| 28 March 1972 | AC-130A | 16th SOS | Downed while truck hunting along the Ho Chi Minh trail by aSA-2surface-to-air missile (SAM),nose art namedPrometheus[58] |
| 30 March 1972 | AC-130E | 16th SOS | Downed while truck hunting by57 mm AA at 7,500 ft (2,300 m): The "E" model was armed with a 105 mmhowitzer. Thissearch and rescue mission was "overshadowed by theBat-21 rescue mission."[59] |
| 18 June 1972 | AC-130A | 16th SOS | Downed by aSA-7 shoulder-fired SAM which struck the number-three engine and blew off the wing[60] |
| 21–22 December 1972 | AC-130A | 16th SOS | Downed while truck hunting along the Ho Chi Minh trail at 7,800 ft (2,400 m) by 37 mm AA[61] |
On 28 January 1973, theVietnam peace accord went into effect, marking the end of Spectre operations in Vietnam. Spectre was still needed and active in the region, supporting operations in Laos and Cambodia. On 22 February 1973, American offensive operations in Laos ended and the gunships became totally committed to operations in the Cambodian conflict.
On 12 April 1975, theKhmer Rouge was threatening the capital ofPhnom Penh and AC-130s were called on to help inOperation Eagle Pull, the final evacuation of American and allied officials from Phnom Penh before it was conquered by the communists. The AC-130 was also over Saigon on 30 April 1975 to protect the final evacuation inOperation Frequent Wind. Spectres were also called in when theUSSMayaguez was seized, on the open sea, by Khmer Rouge soldiers and sailors on 15 May 1975.
Six AC-130s and 52 air crew members were lost during the war.[55] AC-130s reportedly destroyed more than 10,000 trucks[62] and participated in many crucial close-air-support missions in Vietnam.
With the conclusion of hostilities in Southeast Asia in the mid-1970s, the AC-130H became the sole gunship in the regular Air Force, home based at Hurlburt Field, Florida, while the AC-130A fleet was transferred to the Air Force Reserve's 919th Tactical Airlift Group (919 TAG) atEglin AFB Auxiliary Field #3/Duke Field, Florida. With the transition to the AC-130A, the 919 TAG was then redesignated as the919th Special Operations Group.
In the late 1970s, when the AC-130H fleet was first being modified for in-flight refueling capability, a demonstration mission was planned and flown from Hurlburt Field, Florida, nonstop, to conduct a 2-hour live-fire mission over Empire Firing Range in the Republic of Panama, then return home. This 13-hour mission with two in-flight refuelings fromKC-135 tankers proved the validity of flying long-range missions outside thecontiguous United States to attack targets then return to home base without intermediate stops.
AC-130s from both the4th and16th Special Operations Squadrons have been deployed in nearly every conflict in which the United States has been involved, officially and unofficially, since the end of the Vietnam War.
In July 1979, AC-130H crews deployed toHoward Air Force Base, Panama, as a precaution against possible hostile actions against American personnel during theNicaraguan Revolution. New time aloft and nonstop distance records were subsequently set by a 16th SOS two-ship AC-130H formation flight that departed Hurlburt Field on 13 November 1979 and landed on 15 November atAndersen Air Force Base,Guam, a distance of 7,200 nautical miles (13,300 km) and 29 hours 43 minutes nonstop, refueling four times in-flight.[63][page needed][64] Refueling support for the Guam deployment was provided by KC-135 crews from the 305th Air Refueling Wing fromGrissom AFB, Indiana.
In November 1979, four AC-130H gunships flew nonstop from Hurlburt Field to Anderson AFB, Guam, because of thehostage situation at the US Embassy in Iran. On Guam, AC-130H crews developed communications-out/lights-out refueling procedures for later employment by trial-and-error. This deployment with the 1 SOW/CC as task force commander was directed from the office of the CJCS for fear that Iranian militants could begin executing American Embassy personnel who had beentaken hostage on 4 November. One early option considered AC-130H retaliatory punitive strikes deep within Iran. Later gunship flights exceeded the 1979 Hurlburt-to-Guam flight. Upon return in March 1980, the four planes soon found themselves in Egypt to support theill-fated hostage rescue attempt.
DuringOperation Urgent Fury in Grenada in 1983, AC-130s suppressed enemy air-defense systems and attacked ground forces enabling the assault of thePoint Salines Airfield viaairdrop and air-land of friendly forces. The AC-130 aircrew earned theLieutenant General William H. Tunner Award for the mission.
The AC-130Hs of the16th Special Operations Squadron unit maintained an ongoing rotation to Howard AB, Panama, monitoring activities in El Salvador and other Central American points of interest, with rules of engagement eventually permitting attacks onFMLN targets. This commitment of maintainers and crews started in 1983 and lasted until 1990.[65] The AC-130 is considered to have hastened the end of theSalvadoran Civil War in the 1980s. Crews flew undercover missions from Honduras and attacked guerrilla camps and concentrations.[66]
AC-130s also had a primary role during theUnited States invasion of Panama (named Operation Just Cause) in 1989, when they destroyedPanama Defense Force headquarters and numerous command-and-control facilities, and provided close air support for US ground troops. Aircrews earned theMackay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year, and the Tunner Award.
During theGulf War of 1990–1991 (Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm), Regular Air Force and Air Force Reserve AC-130s provided close air support and force protection (air base defense) for ground forces, and battlefield interdiction. The primary interdiction targets were early-warning/ground-control intercept sites along the southern border ofIraq. At its standard altitude of 12,000 ft (3,700 m), the aircraft had a proven ability to engage moving ground targets.[67] The first gunship to enter theBattle of Khafji helped stop a southbound Iraqi armored column on 29 January 1991. One day later, three more gunships provided further aid toMarines participating in the operation. The gunships attacked Iraqi positions and columns moving south to reinforce their positions north of the city.
Despite the threat of SAMs and increasing visibility during the early morning hours of 31 January 1991, one AC-130H, AF Serial No. 69-6567, call-sign Spirit 03, opted to stay to continue to protect the Marines. A lone Iraqi with aStrela-2MANPADS shot Spirit 03 down, and all 14 crew members were killed.[68] The loss of Spirit 03 did however result in the US DoD joining the development of the AN/AAQ-24 Directed Infrared Countermeasures System which, in its updated laser-based form, is now a common fit across large US military aircraft.[citation needed]
The military has used AC-130 gunships during the humanitarian operations inSomalia (Operation Restore Hope andOperation United Shield) in 1992–93 andOperation Uphold Democracy in Haiti in 1994. AC-130s took part inOperation Assured Response in Liberia in 1996 and inOperation Silver Wake in 1997, the evacuation of Americannon-combatants fromAlbania.
AC-130s took part in theNATO missions inBosnia and Herzegovina andKosovo during the 1990s.
The AC-130U gunship set a new record for the longest sustained flight by any C-130 on 22 and 23 October 1997, when two AC-130U gunships flew 36 hours nonstop from Hurlburt Field toTaegu Air Base (Daegu), South Korea, being refueled seven times in the air by KC-135 tankers. The two gunships took on 410,000 lb (186,000 kg) of fuel. Gunships also were part of the buildup of US forces in 1998 to compel Iraq to allowUNSCOM weapons inspections.
The US has used gunships with deployments to theWar in Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom,Operation Freedom's Sentinel, 2001–21), andIraq War (Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003–11). AC-130 strikes were directed by special forces on known Taliban locations during the early days of the war in Afghanistan. US Special Operations Forces used the AC-130 to support its operations. The day after arriving in Afghanistan, the AC-130s attacked Taliban and Al-Qaeda forces near the city of Kunduz and were directly responsible for the city's surrender the next day. On 26 November 2001, Spectres were called in to put downa rebellion at the prison fort ofQala-i-Jangi. The 16 SOS flew missions over Mazar-i-Sharif,Kunduz, Kandahar, Shkin, Asadabad, Bagram, Baghran, Tora Bora, and virtually every other part of Afghanistan. The Spectre participated in countless operations within Afghanistan, performing on-call close air support and armed reconnaissance. In March 2002, three AC-130 Spectres provided 39 crucial combat missions in support ofOperation Anaconda in Afghanistan. During the intense fighting, the planes fired more than 1,300x 40mm and 1,200x 105mm rounds.
Close air support was the main mission of the AC-130 in Iraq. Night after night, at least one AC-130 was in the air to fulfill one or more air-support requests (ASRs). A typical mission had the AC–130 supporting a single brigade's ASRs followed by aerial refueling and another two hours with another brigade or SOF team. The use of AC-130s in places like Fallujah, urban settings where insurgents were among crowded populations of non-combatants, was criticized by human rights groups. AC-130s were also used for intelligence gathering with their sophisticated long-range video, infrared and radar sensors. In 2007, US Special Operations forces also used the AC-130 in attacks on suspectedAl-Qaeda militants in Somalia.[69][70]
Eight AC-130H and 17 AC-130U aircraft were in active-duty service as of July 2010.[11] In March 2011, the Air Force deployed two AC-130U gunships to take part inOperation Odyssey Dawn, theUS military intervention in Libya,[71] which eventually came under NATO asOperation Unified Protector.[72]
By September 2013, 14 MC-130W Dragon Spear aircraft have been converted to AC-130W Stinger II gunships. The Stinger gunships have been deployed to Afghanistan to replace the aging AC-130H aircraft and provide an example for the new AC-130J Ghostrider. Modifications began by cutting holes in the plane to make room for weapons and adding kits and bomb bases for laser-guided munitions. Crews added a 105 mm cannon, 20-inch infrared and electro-optical sensors, and the ability to carry 250-lb bombs on the wings.[73]
The final AC-130H Spectre gunship, tail number 69-6569 "Excalibur" was retired on 26 May 2015 atCannon Air Force Base, New Mexico.[1]
On 15 November 2015, two days after theattacks in Paris byISIL, AC-130s andA-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft destroyed a convoy of over 100 ISIL-operated oil tanker trucks in Syria. The attacks were part of an intensification of the US-ledmilitary intervention against ISIL calledOperation Tidal Wave II (named after the originalOperation Tidal Wave duringWorld War II, a failed attempt to raid German oil fields that resulted in heavy aircraft and aircrew loss) in an attempt to cut off oil smuggling as a source of funding for the group.[74]
On 3 October 2015, an AC-130 mistakenlyattacked theDoctors Without Borders hospital inKunduz, Afghanistan, killing 42 people and injuring over 30. In five separate runs, the gunship struck the hospital, which had been erroneously identified as the source of attacks on coalition members. Subsequent inquiries led to punishment of 16 military personnel and cited "human error" as the root cause.[75][76][77][78][79]
On 30 September 2017, the Air Force declared the AC-130J Ghostrider had achieved initial operational capability, with six gunships having been delivered; the aircraft is planned to reach full operational capability by 2023 with 37 gunships delivered. The J-variant is lighter and more fuel efficient than previous versions, able to fly at 416 mph (669 km/h) with a range of 3,000 mi (4,800 km) and service ceiling of 28,000 ft (8,500 m).[33] The AC-130U returned from its final combat deployment on 8 July 2019;[80] the final AC-130U was retired in June 2020.[81] AFSOC started taking delivery of the AC-130J in spring 2019, and the aircraft began deploying to Afghanistan by the summer.[82]
On 21 November 2023, the Air Force released a statement that an AC-130J had performed a retaliatory strike on Iranian-backed militia group in central Iraq. The strike happened nearAl-Asad Airbase after the militia members reportedly launched a ballistic missile against Al-Asad airbase. The Deputy Press Secretary ofThe Pentagon,Sabrina Singh stated "This self-defense strike resulted in some hostile fatalities." Notably the AC-130J's transponder remained on during the strike, and the remainder of its sortie.[83][84]
AC-130J Ghostrider[31]
AC-130A Spectre (Project Gunship II, Surprise Package, Pave Pronto)
AC-130E Spectre (Pave Spectre, Pave Aegis)
AC-130H Spectre
AC-130U Spooky
AC-130W Stinger II (formerly known as theMC-130W Dragon Spear)
One of the first seven AC-130A aircraft deployed toVietnam was AF serial no. 53–3129, namedFirst Lady in November 1970. This aircraft was a conversion of the first production C-130. On 25 March 1971, it took ananti-aircraft artillery hit in the belly just aft of the nose gear wheel well over theHo Chi Minh trail in Laos. The 37 mm shell destroyed everything below the crew deck and barely missed striking two crew members. The pilot was able to crash land the aircraft safely.[97] In 1975, after the conclusion of US involvement in the Vietnam war, it was transferred to theAir Force Reserve, where it served with the711th Special Operations Squadron of the919th Special Operations Wing. In 1980, the aircraft was upgraded from the original three-bladed propellers to the quieter four-bladed propellers and was eventually retired in late 1995. The retirement also marked an end to theAir Force Reserve Command flying the AC-130A. The aircraft now sits on display in the final Air Force Reserve Command configuration with grey paint, black markings, and the four-bladed Hamilton Sunstrand 54H60-91 props at theAir Force Armament Museum atEglin Air Force Base, Florida, USA.[98][99]
A second aircraft, AF serial no. 56–0509, named theUltimate End, was originally accepted as a C-130A by the Air Force on 28 February 1957,[citation needed] and modified to the AC-130A configuration on 27 July 1970. The aircraft participated in the Vietnam War and therescue of theSS Mayaguez.Ultimate End demonstrated the durability of the C-130 after surviving hits in five places by 37 mm anti-aircraft artillery on 12 December 1970, extensive left wing leading edge damage on 12 April 1971 and a 57 mm round damaging the belly and injuring one crewman on 4 March 1972. "Ultimate End" was reassigned to theAir Force Reserve's919th Special Operations Wing atEglin AFB Auxiliary Field No.3 /Duke Field on 17 June 1975, where it continued in service until retired in the fall 1994 and transferred toAir Force Special Operations Command'sHeritage Air Park atHurlburt Field, Florida. While assigned to the711th Special Operations Squadron,Ultimate End served in Operations JUST CAUSE in Panama,DESERT STORM in Kuwait and Iraq, and UPHOLD DEMOCRACY in Haiti. After 36 years and seven months of service, 24 years as a gunship,Ultimate End retired from service on 1 October 1994. It made its last flight fromDuke Field toHurlburt Field on 20 October 1994. The Spectre Association dedicated "Ultimate End" (which served with the 16 SOS in Vietnam) on 4 May 1995. Lt Col Michael Byers, then 16 SOS commander, represented the active-duty gunship force and Clyde Gowdy of the Spectre Association represented all Spectre personnel past and present for the unveiling of a monument at the aircraft and the dedication as a whole.[100]
A third AC-130A, AF serial no. 54–1630, is on display in the Cold War Gallery at theNational Museum of the United States Air Force atWright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. NamedAzrael for theangel of death inIslam who severs the soul from the body, this aircraft figured prominently in the closing hours of Operation Desert Storm. On 26 February 1991, Coalition ground forces were driving the Iraqi Army out of Kuwait. With an Air Force Reserve crew called to active duty, Azrael was sent to theAl Jahra highway (Highway 80) betweenKuwait City andBasra, Iraq, to intercept the convoys of tanks, trucks, buses, and cars fleeing the battle. FacingSA-6 andSA-8 surface-to-air missiles and 37 mm and 57 mm radar-guided anti-aircraft artillery the crew attacked and destroyed or disabled most of the convoys.Azrael was also assigned to the919th Special Operations Wing and retired to the museum in October 1995.[101][102]
Another AC-130A, AF serial no. 54–1626, the original prototype AC-130 named "Gunship II" is on display at the outdoor Air Park at theNational Museum of the United States Air Force atWright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.[12][103] This aircraft served in Southeast Asia from 1967 to 1972, then served in JC-130A test configuration. It was transferred to the National Museum of the United States Air Force in 1976, and converted back to AC-130A configuration in the late 1990s.
AC-130A serial no. 54–1623, c/n 3010, named "Ghost Rider" served in Southeast Asia and later conflicts until being retired in 1997 toDobbins AFB,Georgia. Ghost Rider eventually was transferred and displayed at the Aviation Wing Museum atMarietta, Georgia.
AC-130A serial no. 55–0014, named "Jaws of Death," initially served as a C-130A cargo aircraft before being converted to AC-130A configuration in 1970 and being deployed in Southeast Asia from 1971 to 1975. The aircraft also participated in Operation Desert Storm as part of Joint Task Force Proven Force in 1991 before being retired in 1995, when it was flown toRobins Air Force Base, Georgia and placed on display at the adjacentMuseum of Aviation inWarner Robins.[104][105][106]
AC-130H serial no. 69-6575, named "Wicked Wanda" is on display at the Hurlburt Field, FL airpark.[107]
AC-130U serial no. 87-0128, named "Big Daddy" is on display at the Hurlburt Field, FL airpark.[108]
Data from USAF AC-130U Fact Sheet,[2] AC-130J Fact Sheet[4]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
(Prior to c. 2000)
(Latest armament)[citation needed]
Avionics
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
...along with the remaining two AC-130Ws stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., will be effectively retired next month, by order of the Secretary of the Air Force.
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