Lockheed AC-130

AC-130
	An AC-130J gunship from the 4th Special Operations Squadron
Role	Ground-attack aircraft and close air support gunship for SOF teams
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin; Boeing
First flight	AC-130A: 1967
Introduction	AC-130A: 1968; AC-130H: 1969; AC-130U: 1995; AC-130W: 2012; AC-130J: 2017;
Retired	AC-130A: 1995; AC-130H: 2015; AC-130U: 2020; AC-130W: 2022;
Status	In service (AC-130J)
Primary user	United States Air Force
Developed from	Lockheed C-130 Hercules; Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules;

The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance, ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport, fixed-wing aircraft. It carries a wide array of ground-attack weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and fire-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, its close air support missions are usually flown at night.^[7]

The airframe is manufactured by Lockheed Martin, while Boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support.^[8] Developed during the Vietnam War as "Project Gunship II", the AC-130 replaced the Douglas AC-47 Spooky, or "Gunship I". The sole operator is the United States Air Force, which uses the AC-130J Ghostrider. Close air support roles include supporting ground troops, escorting convoys, and urban operations. Air-interdiction missions are conducted against planned targets and targets of opportunity. Force-protection missions include defending air bases and other facilities. AC-130Js are based at Hurlburt Field, Florida and Cannon AFB, New Mexico;^[9] gunships can be deployed worldwide.^[10] The squadrons are part of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), a component of the United States Special Operations Command.^[11]

The AC-130 has an unpressurized cabin, with the weaponry mounted to fire from the port side of the fuselage. During an attack, the gunship performs a pylon turn, flying in a large circle around the target, so is able to fire at it for far longer than in a conventional strafing attack. The AC-130H Spectre was armed with two 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannons, one L/60 Bofors 40 mm cannon, and M137 105 mm cannon and M37 recoil mechanism from the M102 howitzer; after 1994, the 20 mm cannons were removed. The upgraded AC-130U Spooky has a 25 mm GAU-12 Equalizer cannon in place of the Spectre's two 20 mm cannons, an improved fire-control system, and increased ammunition capacity.^{[citation needed]} The new AC-130J was based on the MC-130J Commando II special-operations tanker. The AC-130W Stinger II is a modified C-130H with upgrades including a precision strike package.^[3]

^ ^a ^b Slack, Chip (26 May 2015). "Air Commandos retire final AC-130H Spectre gunship". Cannon AFB. 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017.
^ Cite error: The named reference AF_factsht_AC-130U 2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b "AC-130W Stinger II". AF.mil. March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022.
^ Cite error: The named reference AC-130J_factsht 2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "AC-130U Fact Sheet". Retrieved 1 November 2022.
^ Cite error: The named reference Special ops get fewer new gunships was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (5 October 2015). "Afghan forces requested airstrike on hospital". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
^ AC-130U Gunship page Archived 10 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Boeing.
^ Church, Aaron M. U. (2023). USAF & USSF Almanac 2023 Weapons & Platforms (PDF). Air & Space Forces Magazine (Report). Air & Space Forces Association. p. 126-127. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
^ 73rd Special Operations Squadron Fact sheet, US Air Force, archived from the original on 16 March 2013
^ "AC-130H/U Gunship" (fact sheet). US Air Force. 30 July 2010. Archived from the original on 10 June 2009. (article was originally based on this.)

[af26may15-1] Slack, Chip (26 May 2015). "Air Commandos retire final AC-130H Spectre gunship". Cannon AFB. 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 29 June 2017.

[AF_factsht_AC-130U_2021-2] Cite error: The named reference AF_factsht_AC-130U 2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[AF_Factsheet_130W_2021-3] "AC-130W Stinger II". AF.mil. March 2021. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022.

[AC-130J_factsht_2021-4] Cite error: The named reference AC-130J_factsht 2021 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[5] "AC-130U Fact Sheet". Retrieved 1 November 2022.

[Special_ops_get_fewer_new_gunships-6] Cite error: The named reference Special ops get fewer new gunships was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[hospital-7] Gibbons-Neff, Thomas (5 October 2015). "Afghan forces requested airstrike on hospital". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 10 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.

[Boe_AC-130U-8] AC-130U Gunship page Archived 10 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Boeing.

[9] Church, Aaron M. U. (2023). USAF & USSF Almanac 2023 Weapons & Platforms (PDF). Air & Space Forces Magazine (Report). Air & Space Forces Association. p. 126-127. Retrieved 26 April 2024.

[AC-130W_Factsheet-10] 73rd Special Operations Squadron Fact sheet, US Air Force, archived from the original on 16 March 2013

[AC-130HU_factsht_2009-11] "AC-130H/U Gunship" (fact sheet). US Air Force. 30 July 2010. Archived from the original on 10 June 2009. (article was originally based on this.)

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