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AF Special Operations Command receives first AC-130J
Air Force News Service ^ | July 31, 2015 | SSgt Marleah Robertson

Posted on 08/11/2015 8:20:48 AM PDT by Half Vast Conspiracy

HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFNS) -- The first AC-130J Ghostrider landed here July 29, making it Air Force Special Operations Command’s first AC-130J.

After completing the initial developmental test and evaluation by the 413th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, the aircraft will be flown by the 1st Special Operations Group Detachment 2 and maintained by the 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron during its initial operational tests and evaluations at Hurlburt Field.

“Putting it through these tests will allow us to wring out the AC-130J in a simulated combat environment, instead of the more rigid flight profiles in formal developmental testing,” said Lt. Col. Brett DeAngelis, the 1st SOG Det. 2 commander. “Now that we know the equipment works when we turn it on, it’s our task to determine the best way to employ our newest asset.”

For most, the new gunship is the future.

“The AC-130J brings new technology to the table for AFSOC with more efficient engines, improved fuel efficiency and the ability to fly higher, further and quieter,” said Master Sgt. Michael Ezell, the 1st SOAMXS production superintendent. “Additionally, the modified weapons system it possesses is a precision strike package that was collected from the older models, such as the laser-guided bombs and AGM-176 Griffin bombs, and combined to give us all the capabilities of the AC-130W Stinger II and AC-130U Spooky all in one package.”

The AC-130J is a modified MC-130J Commando II, containing advanced features that will enable it to provide ground forces with an expeditionary, direct-fire platform that is persistent, suited for urban operations and capable of delivering precision munitions against ground targets.

“This is an exciting transition as we move the AC-130J from the test community to the operational community,” DeAngelis said. “While we still have initial operational testing in front of us to accomplish, it will now be done by aircrews selected for their combat expertise, instead of their testing background.”

A cadre of 60 aircrew and maintainers were selected by the Air Force Personnel Center to stand up the program, and there will be an additional 30 contractors to help work on the new gunship.

“We will be training on the airplane, getting all the qualifications and hands-on experience we need to be able to perform operational testing in order to give an exact picture of how this plane will operate in a real-world environment,” Ezell said. “Our focus right now is to learn how to maintain the aircraft and the operators will learn how to fly it and get ready for (initial operational test and evaluation), which should start later this year.”

Airmen were hand selected to work on the new AC-130J; they encompass a solid background and level of expertise on C-130Js. The maintenance team cadre came from Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, Dyess AFB, Texas, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, and Cannon AFB, New Mexico.

“As more AC-130Js are produced and delivered, the older models will slowly be retired,” DeAngelis said. “Until then, we’ll hold on to them while the AC-130J completes operational tests and the fleet becomes abundant in numbers.”

Operational testing is expected to be complete in spring 2016.

“Det. 2’s mission is simple; ‘Get it right,’” DeAngelis said. “And we have the right group of people to do just that.”


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: ac130j; afsoc; aviation; ghosstrider; specops
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1 posted on 08/11/2015 8:20:49 AM PDT by Half Vast Conspiracy
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To: Half Vast Conspiracy

Amazing platform....but “Ghostrider” is a mouthful....doesn’t compare with Spooky or Spectre....wish they’d done better


2 posted on 08/11/2015 8:27:23 AM PDT by ken5050 (If the GOP canÂ’t muster the moral courage to defund Planned Parenthood, they don't deserve the WH)
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To: Half Vast Conspiracy

Nice fan blades.


3 posted on 08/11/2015 8:32:51 AM PDT by Paladin2 (Ive given up on aphostrophys and spell chek on my current device...)
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To: Half Vast Conspiracy
AFSOC adding cannon to its new gunship

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Air Force's new gunship is going to be a lot more powerful.

The AC-130J Ghostrider is in testing and expected to replace the service's current gunship fleet of AC-130H Spectres, AC-130W Stinger IIs and AC-130U Spookys. The new version already was planned to be outfitted with a precision strike package. But that wasn't enough for Air Force Special Operations Command.

"I want to have two guns," AFSOC Commander Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold told reporters Thursday at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium here.

AFSOC plans to add a 105mm cannon to the rear of the plane. That is in addition to the weapons the aircraft is already slated to carry — dual electro-optical infrared sensors, a 30mm cannon, AGM-176A Griffin missiles, all-weather synthetic aperture radar and GBU-30 small diameter bombs. The package was developed to let the gunship identify friendlies and targets at night and in adverse weather.

The command is testing the first version of the Ghostrider, without the gun. The second version is being built without the cannon; the third will be the first to be built with the 105mm cannon, which is in use on the U version of the plane. The first two will be retrofit with the cannon.

With the addition of the cannon, the AC-130J will carry the largest weapons load that the Air Force's gunships have had.

"We've got a bomb truck with guns on it now," Heithold said, calling the AC-130J "the ultimate battle plane."

The Air Force will fly 37 AC-130Js and expects to field the first operational version in two to three years — following testing and any changes required to address issues that arise during testing. The service has eight AC-130Hs, 12 AC-130Ws and 17 AC-130Us.

The Air Force is retiring the eight H models, and will reduce to a floor of 26 W and U versions.
4 posted on 08/11/2015 8:32:53 AM PDT by Cheerio (Barry Hussein Soetoro-0bama=The Complete Destruction of American Capitalism)
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To: ken5050
"Negative Ghostrider, the pattern is full."


5 posted on 08/11/2015 8:35:07 AM PDT by Yo-Yo (Is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: Half Vast Conspiracy
“The AC-130J brings new technology to the table for AFSOC with more efficient engines, improved fuel efficiency and the ability to fly higher, further and quieter,”

I wonder if those sexy new prop blades were made by Ham Standard like on the older C-130s.

6 posted on 08/11/2015 8:36:50 AM PDT by Bloody Sam Roberts (Democracy is not freedom. Democracy is simply majoritarianism. It is incompatible with real freedom.)
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To: Cheerio

Oh my. A couple of those on station in Syria and Iraq with some special forces on the ground and we could destroy ISIS over the long labor day weekend.


7 posted on 08/11/2015 8:37:18 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (Democrats are parasites. It really is that simple.)
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To: Paladin2

I thought the same thing.


8 posted on 08/11/2015 8:42:40 AM PDT by Gamecock (Many Atheists: "There is no God and I hate Him!")
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To: Cheerio
A 105mm cannon? Dang! That's make the plane buck!


9 posted on 08/11/2015 8:45:12 AM PDT by Gamecock (Many Atheists: "There is no God and I hate Him!")
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To: Gamecock

They just need to point it to the rear.


10 posted on 08/11/2015 8:47:55 AM PDT by Paladin2 (Ive given up on aphostrophys and spell chek on my current device...)
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To: ken5050

The troops will take care of that.


11 posted on 08/11/2015 8:53:01 AM PDT by mcshot (We have but our word and honor - 0 has 0.)
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To: Paladin2

I was thinking the same thing along with how they arrived at what looks like an iffy design.


12 posted on 08/11/2015 8:56:49 AM PDT by mcshot (We have but our word and honor - 0 has 0.)
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To: Yo-Yo

Why wouldn’t it be vulnerable to air to air or ground to air missile attacks?


13 posted on 08/11/2015 9:00:25 AM PDT by joemsewi
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To: Half Vast Conspiracy

Bring the Rain!


14 posted on 08/11/2015 9:04:33 AM PDT by C19fan
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To: mcshot

CFD, FEA and plenty of testing.


15 posted on 08/11/2015 9:10:14 AM PDT by Paladin2 (Ive given up on aphostrophys and spell chek on my current device...)
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To: joemsewi
Why wouldn’t it be vulnerable to air to air or ground to air missile attacks?

It is, that's why it is painted in a dark color, flown at night, and only in areas where the enemy air threat has been eliminated and enemy SAMs are being actively suppressed.

16 posted on 08/11/2015 9:12:44 AM PDT by xone
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To: joemsewi

They are mainly used at night, fly above small arms fire and not in areas where there as SAMs that could reach them


17 posted on 08/11/2015 9:22:02 AM PDT by skyman
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To: EQAndyBuzz

Not gonna happen since ISIS is the USA’s terrorist organization.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMjXbuj7BPI


18 posted on 08/11/2015 9:23:46 AM PDT by Jack Hydrazine (Pubbies = national collectivists; Dems = international collectivists; We need a second party!)
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To: Half Vast Conspiracy

The Ghost Riders were a legend in the Central Highlands of Vietnam flying out of Camp Holloway at Pleiku, their official designation was the 189th Assault Helicopter Company. Their exploits can be seen here:

http://www.189thahc.org/

Tee up the Johnny Cash song and carry forward the traditions.


19 posted on 08/11/2015 9:24:13 AM PDT by centurion316
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To: xone
It is, that's why it is painted in a dark color, flown at night, and only in areas where the enemy air threat has been eliminated and enemy SAMs are being actively suppressed

Hmmmm.. Like a certain southern US border, perhaps? (I know. I am dreaming.....)

20 posted on 08/11/2015 9:24:37 AM PDT by llevrok (To liberals, Treason Is the New Patriotism)
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