Air Force Special Operations plans to retain some of its older AC-130 gunship initially slated for retirement to use as test beds for laser weapons systems, said AFSOC boss Lt. Gen. Brad Heithold on Tuesday. Addressing a directed energy “summit” in McLean, Va., Heithold said his top need for lasers on his gunships was defensive, rather than offensive. Heithold said taking out “high value targets” and rescuing hostages can require the command’s C-130s to go into well-defended areas. “If we don’t figure out ways to defend our airplanes, we can lose that capability. I have to think first and foremost in the defensive mode, to protect my airplanes,” he said. However, Heithold said AFSOC also is developing an offensive laser system that would go on later models of the AC-130. Addressing the same forum, Lt Gen. William Etter, the Joint Forces Air Component Commander at US Northern Command, cited the value of directed energy weapons, such as high-powered lasers, to help defend the homeland. Although they have made “rapid progress” on detection, “we still have the same defensive weapons we had on 9/11,” Etter said. (See also Gunship Mini-Me, Microwave, and Lasers.)
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…
