Posted on 10/03/2001 8:37:00 AM PDT by KarlH
Continuing the distinguished combat history of side-firing AC-130 gunships, the new AC-130U Spectre gunship is being fielded as a replacement for the AC-130A aircraft. This program acquires 13 new basic C-130H aircraft for modification and integration by Boeing to the AC-130U Gunship configuration. The AC-130U gunship airframe is integrated with an armor protection system (APS), high resolution sensors (All Light Level Television (ALLTV), infrared detection set (IDS) and strike radar), avionics and EW systems, a sophisticated software controlled fire control system, and an armament suite consisting of side-firing, trainable 25mm, 40mm, and 105mm guns. The strike radar provides the first gunship capability for all weather/night target acquisition and strike.
The acquisition program for this new gunship evolved from a Congressional mandate in the mid-1980s to revitalize the special operations force capabilties. Following the contract award to Rockwell in July 1987, the aircraft was first flown on 20 December 1990. FY92 procurement funding was increased to provide the 13th aircraft to replace the AC-130H lost during Desert Storm. Upon completing an exhaustive flight test program at Air Force Flight Test Center from 1991 to 1994 the first aircraft was delivered to AFSOC on July 1, 1994. Boeing’s contract includes: concurrent development, aircraft production, flight test, and delivery. All aircraft have been delivered and the program is transitioning to the sustainment phase. A competitive contract for sustainment was awarded in July 1998.
The AC-130U is the most complex aircraft weapon system in the world today. It has more than 609,000 lines of software code in its mission computers and avionics systems. The newest addition to the command fleet, this heavily armed aircraft incorporates side-firing weapons integrated with sophisticated sensor, navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or area saturation during extended loiter periods, at night and in adverse weather. The sensor suite consists of an All Light Level Television system and an infrared detection set. A multi-mode strike radar provides extreme long-range target detection and identification. It is able to track 40mm and 105mm projectiles and return pinpoint impact locations to the crew for subsequent adjustment to the target. The fire control system offers a Dual Target Attack capability, whereby two targets up to one kilometer apart can be simultaneously engaged by two different sensors, using two different guns. No other air-ground attack platform in the world offers this capability. Navigational devices include the inertial navigation system (INS) and global positioning system (GPS). The aircraft is pressurized, enabling it to fly at higher altitudes, saving fuel and time, and allowing for greater range than the AC-130H. Defensive systems include a countermeasures dispensing system that releases chaff and flares to counter radar infrared-guided anti-aircraft missiles. Also infrared heat shields mounted underneath the engines disperse and hide engine heat sources from infrared-guided anti-aircraft missiles.
Specifications |
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| AC-130H Spectre | AC-130U Spooky | |||
| Primary Function: | Close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance | |||
| Contractor: | Lockheed Aircraft Corp. | |||
| Power Plant: | Four Allison turboprop engines T56-A-15 | |||
| Thrust: | Each engine 4,910 horsepower | |||
| Length: | 97 feet, 9 inches (29.8 meters) | |||
| Height: | 38 feet, 6 inches (11.7 meters) | |||
| Maximum Takeoff Weight: | 155,000 pounds (69,750 kilograms) | |||
| Wingspan: | 132 feet, 7 inches (40.4 meters) | |||
| Range: | 1,500 statute miles (1,300 nautical miles) Unlimited with air refueling |
2,200 nautical miles Unlimited with air refueling |
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| Ceiling: | 25,000 feet (7,576 meters) | 30,000 ft. | ||
| Speed: | 300 mph (Mach 0.40) (at sea level) | |||
| Armament: | two M61 20mm Vulcan cannons with 3,000 rounds one L60 40mm Bofors cannon with 256 rounds one M102 105mm howitzer with 100 rounds |
One 25mm GAU-12 Gatling gun (1,800 rounds per minute) one L60 40mm Bofors cannon (100 shots per minute) one M102 105mm cannon (6-10 rounds per minute) |
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| Countermeasures |
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| Crew: | 14 -- five officers (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, fire control officer, electronic warfare officer); nine enlisted (flight engineer, loadmaster, low-light TV operator, infrared detection set operator, five aerial gunners) | 13 total. Five officers (pilot, copilot, navigator, fire control officer, electronic warfare officer); 8 enlisted (flight engineer, All Light Level TV operator, infrared- detection set operator, four airborne gunners, loadmaster) | ||
| Unit Cost: | $46.4 million (1992 dollars) | $72 million | ||
| Date Deployed: | 1972 | 1995 | ||
| Inventory: | Active force, 8; Reserve, 0; ANG, 0 |
13 aircraft assigned to 16th Special Operation Wing's 4th Special Operations Squadron. | ||
A bargain at twice the price.
One 25mm GAU-12 Gatling gun: 1800 rounds per minute, but just 300 rounds carried?
Just 10 seconds of sustained fire? Is that a typo?
The AC-47 was the spooky, the AC-130 is the Spectre. This aircraft is meant to fire on very lightly armed targets. For heavily armed targets, it is a sitting duck. That is why one was shot down in the Gulf War, because they tried to use it against the wrong targets. Helicopter gunships are pretty awesome machines as well. The Spectre has it's place for sure, but they must be careful.
They bank and orbit the aircraft, to fire. They can't bank in both directions at the same time.
It has more than 609,000 lines of software code in its mission computers and avionics systems.
As a software guy, that size doesn't really impress me. That's rather small.
Question - what advantages do turbo-prop (propeller) engines have over jet engines in this type of application?
They are slower, giving the crew more time to pound the crap out of the target, a more stable platform from which to direct highly accurate fire, and a longer time to be in the air waiting for trouble.
I found these Quicktime movies at the Smithsonian Air & Space Magazine web site
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