#ARTISAN CUTLERY INSTALL#
AFSOC, however, cancelled its plans to install the new cannons on its fleet of AC-130Us.
#ARTISAN CUTLERY PLUS#
These were referred to as AC-130U Plus 4 or AC-130U+4. In 2007, the Air Force modified four AC-130U gunships as test platforms for the Bushmasters. 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 two 30 mm Mk 44 Bushmaster II cannons.
#ARTISAN CUTLERY UPGRADE#
In 2007, AFSOC initiated a program to upgrade the armament of AC-130s. Regardless of their project names, the aircraft were more commonly referred to by the squadron's call sign, Spectre.ĪC-130U armed with two 30 mm Bushmasters, 2007 Conversion of C-130Es into AC-130Es for the "PAVE Spectre" project followed. In the summer of 1971, Surprise Package AC-130s were converted to the Pave Pronto configuration and assumed the new nickname of "Thor". In 1970, 10 more AC-130As were acquired under the "Pave Pronto" project. The Surprise Package configuration served as a test bed for the avionic systems and armament for the AC-130E. The Surprise Package upgrade included the latest 20 mm rotary autocannons and 40 mm Bofors cannon, but no 7.62 mm close-support armament. Seven more warplanes were converted to the "Plain Jane" configuration like the AC-130 prototype in 1968, and one aircraft received the "Surprise Package" refit in 1969. The AC-130 was later supplemented by the AC-119 Shadow (Project Gunship III), which later proved to be underpowered. By September 1967, the aircraft was certified ready for combat testing and was flown to Nha Trang Air Base, South Vietnam for a 90-day test program. Flight testing of the prototype was performed primarily at Eglin Air Force Base, followed by further testing and modifications. The analog fire-control computer prototype was handcrafted by RAF Wing Commander Tom Pinkerton at the USAF Avionics Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB. A direct-view night-vision telescope was installed in the forward door, an early forward-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. The modifications were done at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base by the Aeronautical Systems Division. In 1967, JC-130A 54-1626 was selected for conversion into the prototype AC-130A gunship (Project Gunship II).
ĪC-130H Spectre near Hurlburt Field, Florida in 1988 The AC-130W Stinger II is a modified C-130H with upgrades including a precision strike package. The new AC-130J was based on the MC-130J Commando II special-operations tanker. The upgraded AC-130U Spooky has a single 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. The AC-130H Spectre was armed with two 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannons, one L60 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. During an attack, the gunship performs a pylon turn, flying in a large circle around the target, therefore being able to fire at it for far longer than in a conventional strafing attack. The AC-130 has an unpressurized cabin, with the weaponry mounted to fire from the port side of the fuselage. The squadrons are part of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), a component of the United States Special Operations Command. AC-130Us are based at Hurlburt Field, Florida, while AC-130Ws are based at Cannon AFB, New Mexico gunships can be deployed worldwide. Force-protection missions include defending air bases and other facilities. Air-interdiction missions are conducted against planned targets and targets of opportunity. Close air support roles include supporting ground troops, escorting convoys, and urban operations. The sole operator is the United States Air Force, which uses the AC-130U Spooky and AC-130W Stinger II variants for close air support, air interdiction, and force protection, with the upgraded AC-130J Ghostrider entering service.
Developed during the Vietnam War as "Project Gunship II", the AC-130 replaced the Douglas AC-47 Spooky, or "Gunship I". The airframe is manufactured by Lockheed Martin, while Boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support. Because 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. Unlike other modern military fixed-wing aircraft, the AC-130 relies on visual targeting. It carries a wide array of ground-attack weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and fire-control systems. The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance, ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport, fixed-wing aircraft.
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