Color me skeptical. The comments after the story voice some objections, and if Lockheed Martin has anything to do with it, it will probably cost 20 times more than estimated, take 10 years longer to complete, and still won’t work.
The Defense Department can’t account for 10 trillion dollars. How about we get some control over this before buying yet another expensive trinket? The procurement process for defense has become so politicized that it’s hard to support the idea that the military gets the weapons and equipment it really needs.
>>Color me skeptical. The comments after the story voice some objections, and if Lockheed Martin has anything to do with it, it will probably cost 20 times more than estimated, take 10 years longer to complete, and still won’t work.<<
The AC130 is a proven frame with a track record that would impress even the staunches skeptic.
This is taking what they have and kicking it up a BUNCH of motches.
We might not be able to create new aircraft anymore compared to the Golden Era of the F-15, 16, 18, etc. But we seem to be able to REALLY do a lot with the tried and true.
...The Defense Department can’t account for 10 trillion dollars....
Obama’s payoff to Iran had to come from some slush the??nd, somewhere. Who knows what else he did??
“How about we get some control over this before buying yet another expensive trinket?”
If you are a “gun-nut” then do a bit of research on “Spooky” and “Puff the Magic Dragon”. These gunships have been “saving the bacon” for grunts since Vietnam.
Proven technology, just carrying more weapons. The C-130 is one of the best military acquisitions ever made. It has been an outstanding replacements for the C-47/C-117, which was the aircfart for the first “Spooky’s”.
“Saved my bacon” during an NVA on-line assault.
Actually this plane is the cheaper route than Tomahawks and B2 bomber missions on assumetrical warfare.