Posted on 05/10/2018 7:08:44 AM PDT by MtnClimber
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- "That's the sound America makes when she's angry."
That's how Col. Tom Palenske, commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing, characterized the AC-130 gunship after two aircraft fired hundreds of rounds from their 40mm and 105mm cannons and 25mm Gatling gun in the skies above A-77, a range specially made for target practice.
Palenske, also the installation commander here, says crews can't wait for the next best thing: the AC-130J Ghostrider. "It's going to be awesome. It's our big gun truck. It's going to have more powerful engines, a more efficient fuel rate, and also has a more precise fuel capability so you know exactly how much gas you've got on board," he said......
"You can keep the sensors on the bad guys longer," Palenske said, referring to the J-model's ability to stay airborne longer due to better fuel management. Along with the 105mm cannon the U-models sport, the AC-130J will be equipped with a 30mm cannon "almost like a sniper rifle … it's that precise, it can pretty much hit first shot, first kill," he said.
"It's also going to have AGM-176 [Griffin] missiles on the back, so you can put 10 missiles on the back of them.
(Excerpt) Read more at military.com ...
Cargo plane guys love these things as it finally lets them shoot back.
Yuge Thanks for the courtesy of your well informed detailed reply!
Yup, Ivan’s latest Gen mobile SAMs and Manpads are a terrifying threat to aircraft.
Appreciate that. Thanks.
My last flight in one was in ‘67. Am glad to know they’ve improved.
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