Fotogalerij van een Lockheed AC-130A Spectre,
The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport fixed-wing aircraft. It carries a wide array of anti-ground oriented weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and fire-control systems. Unlike other military fixed-wing aircraft, the AC-130 relies on visual targeting. Because its large profile and low operating altitudes (around 7,000 ft) make it an easy target, it usually flies close air support missions at night.
De Lockheed AC-130A Spectrewas a ground-attack aircraft and close air support gunship for special operations teams. It was a variant of the C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed and converted by Boeing. It first flew in 1967 and entered service in 1968. It was retired in 1995.
De AC-130A Spectre had een bemanning van 13 personen, waaronder vijf officieren en acht manschappen. Het was bewapend met vier miniguns, vier 20 mm M61 Vulcan-kanonnen en twee 40 mm Bofors-kanonnen. Het gebruikte verschillende sensoren, een doelacquisitiesysteem en infrarood- en televisiesystemen bij weinig licht om doelen 's nachts te lokaliseren en aan te vallen.
De AC-130A Spectre werd op grote schaal gebruikt tijdens de oorlog in Vietnam, waar het vuursteun bood aan grondtroepen, konvooien begeleidde en verbodsmissies uitvoerde. Het zag ook actie in Operatie Urgent Fury in Grenada, Operatie Just Cause in Panama en Operatie Desert Storm in Irak.
De AC-130A Spookwas replaced by newer variants of the AC-130 gunship, such as the AC-130H Spectre, the AC-130U Spooky, the AC-130W Stinger II, and the AC-130J Ghostrider. These variants have improved weapons, sensors, and fire-control systems, as well as increased survivability and endurance.