I took this one around 10 years ago so they are probably more advanced now.
Posted on 03/28/2017 7:38:50 PM PDT by nralife
HURLBURT FIELD, FLORIDA – In the not-too-distant future, when ground troops call for close-air support, the ‘Ghostrider’ and its deadly arsenal could come to their rescue.
The AC-130J Ghostrider is set to be the most heavily-armed gunship in history, bristling with 30mm and 105mm cannons, AGM-176A Griffin missiles, and the ability to carry Hellfire missiles and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs.
But that’s not all.
Some day in the future, the Ghostrider could even be equipped with a high-energy laser.
That’s right. Lasers.
When it hits the battlefield in a few short years, the Ghostrider will be the most heavily armed gunship in history – a badass plane providing close-air support to U.S. troops on the ground and delivering withering firepower that will send enemies running for the hills.
Aircraft such as the F-35 and A-10 may be the focus of headlines, arguments on Capitol Hill between brass and lawmakers, and viral videos pulsing with hard rock. But despite drawing a fraction of the attention, the AC-130 and all its variants have been workhorses of the past 15 years of war.
They rained down fire on the Taliban and al-Qaida during the early days of the Afghanistan war, and fought in many more battles there over the years. They supported ground troops during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, as well as in subsequent clashes, such as the battles of Fallujah. They conducted raids on Libyan dictator Moammar Qaddafi’s forces during the civil war there in 2011. And as the military’s focus gradually turned to the Islamic State militant group, the AC-130’s guns were trained on ISIS fighters, vehicles and oil trucks in places such as Raqqa, Syria.
(Excerpt) Read more at airforcetimes.com ...
I didn’t think the usaf cared for close air support . . . not sexy enough. and then all the money you spent on ugly a-10s and such was wasted money that couldn’t be spent on sexy-ass f-22’s & etc.
Wouldn’t it be something if he stashed billions away in Swiss bank accounts like some third world dictator? Sounds like a good rumor to start. ;-)
perty bird
I took this one around 10 years ago so they are probably more advanced now.
I’ve already got one.
An AC in the stack above is always a good thing.
Bfl
“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.
“Puff the Magic Dragon.....”
^^^^^
There you go! And before that we had Douglas AC-47s in Vietnam. The original Puffs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKOrpyO0z48
“Hmmm..anyone know what the CHIN DOMES do..?”
^^^^^
Couldn’t say. But thanks for posting all the photos!
My guess is night vision.
That plane probably is the best ground support plane in the world but it has a weak chin so make sure it is used in it’s proper way.
Sweet!
Doing the work other planes can’t do since 1954. That’s 63 years, not a small number!
I attended the memorial service for the crew of Spirit 3. In Niceville, Florida.
Actually this plane is the cheaper route than Tomahawks and B2 bomber missions on assumetrical warfare.
Thank you for your service
Nope.
Lasers can only shoot a straight line.
Other munitions can shoot over the horizon, over objects/hills and even be programmed to explode at some distant over or near an object to spread sharpness or over pressure to kill or injure.
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