What can shoot down an AC-130?

The AC-130U was armed with a 25mm Gatling-gun (capable of firing 1800 rounds per minute), a single-barrel, rapid-fire 40mm Bofors cannon, and a 105mm Howitzer.

Has an AC-130 ever been destroyed?

More than 15 percent of the approximately 2,350 Lockheed C-130 Hercules production hulls have been lost, including 70 by the US Air Force and the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. From 1967 to 2005, the Royal Air Force (RAF) recorded an accident rate of about one Hercules loss per 250,000 flying hours.

Is the AC-130 obsolete?

So yes its pretty vulnerable. However, the AC-130 has proven itself over the decades a VERY valuable platform for not only providing CAS but also more recently tracking down and eliminating High Value Targets.

What is an AC-130 gunship?

The A-model gunship was the first AC-130 model. The aircraft is 97 feet 9 inches long and 38 feet 3 inches tall. It has a wingspan of 132 feet 7 inches and a wing area of 1,745 sq. feet. Initially, the C-130 had a maximum speed of 384 mph and an un-refueled range of 2,450 miles with maximum load.

What kind of weapons does a Lockheed AC-130 have?

Lockheed AC-130. 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.

What makes the AC-130 aircraft so effective?

The high technology and enormous firepower makes the AC-130 one of the most effective anti-insurgency, close air support military aircraft in an asymmetrical conflict. New weaponry (direct energy Lasers, Kinetic Energy railgun and drone attack swarms) can be integrated with this robust aircraft in the future.

Where have AC-130s been deployed?

Over the past four decades, AC-130s have deployed constantly to hotspots throughout the world in support of special operations and conventional forces. In South America, Africa, Europe and throughout the Middle East, gunships have significantly contributed to mission success.