New weapons sought for special ops gunships.

• Author: Pappalardo, Joe
• Position: SPECIAL OPERATIONS

U.S. Special Operations Command officials are considering novel weapons enhancements for AC-130 gunships, beloved by operators for their ability to bring withering fire on enemies. Ideas include controlling weaponized unmanned craft and lobbing mortar rounds from the aircraft.

Although these projects have been discussed for years, only recently has SOCOM taken steps to fund alternatives for its gunship fleet.

These concepts are being tested while a change in weapons is already underway. The 25 mm and 40 mm guns currently on board will be replaced with two 30 mm Mk44 Bushmaster II cannons, the first-ever use of the weapons from a fixed-wing aircraft.

Bofors Defense manufactures the M61A1 40 mm cannons, and General Dynamics makes the GAU-12 25 mm weapons currently used on the AC-130.

The M61A1 has already been removed from the active inventory, SOCOM sources told National Defense, and the 25 mm guns are next to go. "General Dynamics will still make the mounts, but the new weapons will be made by someone else," confirmed General Dynamics spokesman John Suttle.

Alliant Techsystems produces the 30 mm Bushmaster. The MK44 is also the U.S. Marine Corps' weapon for its Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle.

"The GAU-12, while very capable, is a highly complex system that requires extensive maintenance to keep up," said Air Force Maj. Ken Hoffman, spokesman for SOCOM. "Long-term costs of both the gun and munitions necessitate a lower cost and a more effective system."

The first of four 30 mm-configured airplanes will be delivered to the Air Force Special Operations Command late this year, according to Tom Larock, of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. The rest will go into service in 2006.

Alliant stated in a news release that the weapon "will enhance the aircraft's ability to destroy enemy armored vehicles by significantly increasing its stand-off distance while providing more firepower on target."

While the increase in range is welcome, the new gun systems will not fully address the most pressing concern about the AC-130--its vulnerability to anti-aircraft weapons, especially missiles.

The AC-130 gunship is a C-130 transport modified with side mounted guns and various sensors. It comes in H and U variants, the former hailing from the Vietnam era and the latter built in the 1990s. SOCOM said current plans have the gunships remaining in service through 2030. The planes earned their reputation during the Vietnam War, when the gunships were credited by...