Lockheed AC-130

Lockheed AC-130
An AC-130H “Specter” over Florida
Type:	Gunship
Design country:	United States
Manufacturer:	Lockheed Corporation
First flight:	June 6, 1967
Commissioning:	September 21, 1967
Production time:	til today
Number of pieces:	59

The Lockheed AC-130 is a variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft used for close air support using sideways-acting guns . It is supported by the United States Air Force used and there because of their strong pipe armament as " Gunship (" German gunboat ), respectively. The main variants built so far are the AC-130A Specter , AC-130E Specter , AC-130H Specter , AC-130U Spooky II , AC-130J Ghostrider and AC-130W Stinger II .  

description

The development of the AC-130 goes back to the Vietnam War . An aircraft was needed there that could persistently fight targets with guns over the combat zone. Attempts from 1964 with the AC-47 Spooky convinced the military of the general applicability of the concept of using relatively slow aircraft, which, however, enabled a long service life with large-caliber weapons. After trials with other types, the tactical transport aircraft Lockheed C-130 Hercules was chosen as the basis for these “gunships” . The range of models known as Gunship II began in 1967 with a single conversion of a JC-130A (USAF serial number 54-1626) to the AC-130A with four multi - barrel M61 Vulcan machine guns and four multi- barrel minigun machine guns . In addition, several additional sensors came ( night vision , low light video camera and laser - rangefinder in the forward port door as well as a beacon tracking radar APQ-133 in the rear port door). The missions in Vietnam at the end of 1967 were so successful that another seven former JC-130A (airborne control centers for rocket tests) were converted as AC-130A with even more improved electronic equipment. You were stationed at the 16th Special Operations Squadron (16th Special Operations Squadron) from the end of 1968.

A single C-130A with modified armament was then converted under the name Project Surprise Package . The two rear Vulcan automatic cannons and miniguns were replaced by two 40 mm Bofors guns . In addition, the electronic equipment has been significantly improved. Under the subsequent Pave Pronto program, a further nine C-130A were converted according to this model. The armament consisted of two miniguns , two M61 Vulcan and two 40 mm Bofors guns. The sensors were supplemented by an ASD-5 ignition detector, a FLIR AAD-7, an AVQ-17 searchlight and an APQ-150 beacon tracking radar. The ASD-5 sensor was designed in such a way that it could locate running truck engines in the dense jungle.

However, the most heavily armed close air support aircraft in Vietnam were the 11 AC-130E manufactured under the Pave Specter program . On the brand new machines (serial numbers 69-6567 to 69-6577) one of the two 40-mm guns was replaced by a 105-mm howitzer . The aircraft entered service in October 1971 and proved to be very suitable for the tasks assigned to them. The variant became the AC-130H Specter when it was fitted with more powerful Allison T56-A-15 engines in 1973.

The model Specter ( English "specter" ) came in 1989 during the US invasion of Panama ( Operation Just Cause ) and during the Second Gulf War in 1991 used. During the Battle of Chafji , a Specter was shot down by Iraqi air defense when it was used in daylight, contrary to their operational doctrine. This was the only documented loss of any of these machines since the Vietnam War.

The AC-130U Spooky II was built as a state-of-the-art “gunship” in the 1990s . It is equipped with the radar of the McDonnell Douglas F-15 E, a 25 mm Gatling gun , the 40 mm Bofors gun and a 105 mm howitzer. The highly developed electronics now allow self-driving targets to be hit precisely. This version was used, among other things, during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan for close air support to special forces . In January 2007 such a machine was used to attack suspected terrorists in the southern Somali village of Badel, killing numerous people. These aircraft were also used in the air strikes on the troops of the Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi in 2011.

The Gatling cannon and the Bofors gun were to be replaced by two 30 mm automatic cannons. However, this turned out to be unusable in use and the planes were converted back to their old cannons.

With a thermal imaging device , it is able to capture and combat ground targets at night and in all weather conditions. The deployment concept corresponds to that of a permanent airborne (weapons) platform in the operation area, similar to airborne radar systems such as AWACS .

As an additional armament option, especially against armored targets, it is currently being examined whether it is possible to integrate non-powered, but guided GBU-44 Viper Strike anti-tank weapons.

variants

AC-130H Specter

AC-130W Stinger II cockpit

AC-130A "Project Gunship II"

The single prototype of the "Project Gunship II" was developed from the prototype of the C-130A and first tested in 1964 in Vietnam. She was armed with four M61 "Vulcan" MKs and four MXU-470-MG.

AC-130A "Plain Jane"

From this first series version, seven machines have been converted from C-130A series machines.

AC-130A "Surprise Package"

A single C-130A machine was converted by the Tactical Air Commando and armed with two M61 and two M1-MK. Internally it was also referred to as the "Coronet Surprise" and was, so to speak, the prototype of the Pave Pronto.

AC-130A "Pave Pronto"

Five AC-130A "Plain Jane" and five C-130A "Hercules" transporters were converted into this improved variant of the "Surprise Package". The last ones were retired in 1995.

AC-130E "Pave Specter"

In 1971, eleven C-130E transporters with the same armament as the Pave Pronto were converted. Ten were later modernized and designated AC-130H.

AC-130E "Pave Aegis"

Three AC-130E “Pave Specters” have been converted. Here an M1-MK was left out and replaced by the longer-reaching M-102 howitzer.

AC-130H "Specter"

The eleven existing AC-130E were upgraded to the "H" standard in 1969 with more powerful Allison T56 A-15 engines. At the end of the 1970s, they were converted for air refueling with a refueling opening for the boom system. The AC-130H were decommissioned in 2015 and will be replaced by the AC-130J.

AC-130U "Spooky II"

17 gunships built in the 1990s and equipped with the AN / APG-70 radar . The two M61 were replaced by a GAU-12-MK.

AC-130W "Stinger II"

As a temporary solution until the introduction of the AC-130J, the MC-130W have been retrofitted with a 30 mm GAU-23 / A automatic cannon and a 105 mm M102 howitzer.

AC-130J "Ghostrider"

New variant based on the C-130J transporter. 16 machines are to be purchased as replacements for the AC-130H and with a 105-mm howitzer M102 , a 30-mm automatic cannon GAU 23 / A , short-range missiles of the type AGM-176 Griffin and glide bombs of the type GBU-44 Viper Strike be armed.

Incidents

→ Main article : List of total losses of Lockheed Hercules

(This may also include incidents with the AC-130)

Technical specifications

Training use of an AC-130U "Spooky II"

Use of flares from an AC-130H

Parameter	AC-130H / U specifications
Type:	"Gunship"
Crew:	13
Length:	29.79 m
Span:	40.41 m
Height:	11.66 m
Wing area:	162.12 m²
Empty weight:	28,575 kg
Normal takeoff weight:	55,520 kg
Maximum take-off weight:	69,750 kg
Drive:	four Allison-T56 -A-1A- propeller turbines with 3,160 kW / 4,240 WPS each
Top speed:	480 km / h
Service ceiling:	9,100 m
Range:	4,070 km

Armament

Loading the 40mm Bofors gun (background) and the 105mm M102 howitzer (foreground)

AC-130A Project Gunship II / Pave Plane

• 4 × mounts for 1 × six-barreled 7.62 mm Gatling machine gun General Electric GAU-2B / A (MXU-470 or M134 "Minigun") with 4000 rounds of ammunition each
• 4 × mounts for 1 × six-barreled 20 mm Gatling automatic cannon General Electric M61A1 "Vulcan" each with 3000 rounds of ammunition

AC-130A Surprise Package / Pave Pronto / AC-130E Pave Specter

• 2 × mounts for 1 × six-barreled 7.62 mm Gatling machine gun General Electric GAU-2B / A (M134 "Minigun") each with 4000 rounds of ammunition
• 2 × mounts for 1 × six-barreled 20 mm Gatling automatic cannon General Electric M61A1 "Vulcan" each with 3000 rounds of ammunition
• 2 × mounts for 1 × 40 mm Chrysler M1 automatic cannon (Bofors 40 mm L / 60) with 256 rounds of ammunition each in 8-rod magazines

AC-130E Pave Aegis

• 2 × mounts for 1 × six-barreled 20 mm Gatling automatic cannon General Electric M61A1 "Vulcan" each with 3000 rounds of ammunition (was dismantled after 2000)
• 1 × mount for 1 × 40 mm automatic cannon Chrysler M1 (Bofors 40 mm L / 60) with 256 rounds of ammunition in 8-rod magazines
• 1 × mount for 1 × 105 mm Rock Island Arsenal M102 howitzer with 100 rounds of ammunition (10 different artillery shells)

AC-130U Spooky II

• 1 × mount for 1 × five-barreled 25 mm Gatling automatic cannon General Electric GAU-12 / U "Equalizer" with 3000 rounds of ammunition
• 1 × mount for 1 × 40 mm automatic cannon Chrysler M1 (Bofors 40 mm L / 60) with 256 rounds of ammunition in 8-rod magazines
• 1 × mount for 1 × 105 mm Rock Island Arsenal M102 howitzer with 100 rounds of ammunition (10 different artillery shells)

AC-130W Dragon Spear / Stinger II

• 1 × mount for 1 × 30 mm chain machine gun ATK Mk.44 "Bushmaster II" with 160 rounds of ammunition
• AC-130J bombs and missile capacity

Intermediate solution up to the replacement by the AC-130J, you will be upgraded to the standard MC-130W after the supply of the AC-130J.

AC-130J Ghostrider

• 1 × mount for 1 × 30 mm chain machine gun ATK Mk.44 "Bushmaster II" with 160 rounds of ammunition
• 1 × mount for 1 × 105 mm Rock Island Arsenal M102 howitzer with 100 rounds of ammunition (10 different artillery shells)

Air-to-surface guided missile

• 10 × Raytheon AGM-176 "Griffin" (semi-active laser and GPS-guided) (only in the "Gunslinger" modification)
• 2 × BRU-61 / A start rails for 4 × AGM-114 Hellfire each

Guided bomb

• 10 × Northrop Grumman GBU-44 / B "Viper Strike" (laser and GPS-guided 20 kg glide bomb) (only in the "Gunslinger" modification)
• 2 × BRU-61 / A start rails for each 4 × GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb and / or GBU-53 / B SDB II

Web links

Commons : AC-130 Specter  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• fas.org Information about AC-130H Specter and AC-130U Spooky (English)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Aircraft - The new encyclopedia of aviation. , No. 6, p. 164, Orbis Publishing.
2. ^ Development and employment of fixed-wing gunships 1962–1972. P. 126 ff., Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force.
3. ↑ Air war against Gaddafi: “Specter” chases the dictator's troops. Spiegel Online, March 29, 2011, accessed April 26, 2011 . 
4. ↑ A Spookier Spooky, 30mm at a Time? Defense Industry Daily, September 6, 2009, accessed April 26, 2011 . 
5. ↑ GBU-44 Viper Strike: Death From Above. Defense Industry Daily, September 9, 2009, accessed April 26, 2011 . 
6. ^ Aircraft - The new encyclopedia of aviation. No. 6, p. 162, Orbis Publishing.
7. ↑ Fact Sheet: Lockheed AC-130H. (No longer available online.) National Museum of the United States Air Force, January 8, 2009, archived from the original on September 13, 2011 ; accessed on April 26, 2011 (English). 
8. ↑ ^{a b c} Fact Sheet: AC-130H / U. (No longer available online.) US Air Force, July 30, 2010, archived from the original on July 23, 2012 ; accessed on April 26, 2011 (English). 
9. ↑ AFSOC receives first Ghostrider gunship. Janes, July 30, 2015 ( Memento from August 3, 2015 in the Internet Archive )
10. ↑ ^{a b} Tyler Rogoway: The US Air Force's New AC-130 Gunships Are Really Bomb Trucks . In: Foxtrot Alpha . ( jalopnik.com [accessed December 1, 2016]).