The AC-130 was heavily armed and was designed to not only carry a wide arsenal but also to be able to make the most effective ...

Poor maneuverability makes the AC-130 susceptible to fighters and antiaircraft ground fire. Additionally, the port-mounted weapons systems limit the aircraft's orientation when aiming at targets.

The AC-130 flying gunship fleet is one of the most fabled and feared assets in the entire USAF inventory. Known for its ability to unleash a broadside of cannon fire in the dead of night, the ...

An AC-130 Hercules aircraft banks to the left near Hurlburt Field, with smoke visible from the rotary cannon, during twilight operations in 1988. (Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Lee Schading) ...

By July 2019, the AC-130 had become the Ghostrider, the call sign for the J variant. It could be equipped with a remarkable suite of weaponry, depending on what its mission called for.

The AC-130’s laser feels like the future, but in fact it’s actually a few years late. In 2015, the Air Force challenged industry to put a 120-kilowatt laser on a gunship by 2020.

The AC-130 is so effective that it has been supporting conventional and special-operations troops for close to 60 years, seeing action in Asia, South America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

The AC-130 “Spooky II” gunship is a standard C-130 transport aircraft engineered for close-air support combat. Its 105mm gun, called a M102 Howitzer, fires 33-pound high explosive shells at a ...

The AC-130 “Spooky II” gunship is a standard C-130 transport aircraft engineered for close-air support combat. Its 105mm gun, called a M102 Howitzer, fires 33-pound high explosive shells at a ...

The Spooky II is a C-130 transport aircraft converted to an attack role for close air support and armed reconnaissance. The AC-130U has a crew of thirteen, including four gunners.