Software engineers with the 402nd Software Maintenance Group at Robins AFB, Ga., have devised the means for AC-130 gunships to fire more than one of their cannons simultaneously at the same target. They developed this “dual-targeting” capability in Robins’ gunship lab based on feedback from gunships aircrews who believed this feature would improve combat lethality. “The way they described it is: ‘We want to be able to shoot the ant hill, and then kill all the ants as they leave the ant hill,'” said Steve Pollard, lead AC-130 test engineer. After successfully testing it in the lab, the new capability in now in use. Pollard said lab engineers consider this achievement their “pride and joy,” since it will likely save the lives of US ground troops. But it is only one of many gunship improvement efforts. (Robins report by Wayne Crenshaw)
The use of a military counter-drone laser on the southwest border this week—which prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to abruptly close the airspace over El Paso, Texas—will be a “case study” on the complex web of authorities needed to employ such weapons near civilian areas and the consequences of agencies…
