The AC-130J is AFSOC’s primary CAS, air interdiction, and armed reconnaissance platform optimized for convoy escort, point defense, and urban combat support.
The advanced gunship provides ground forces a persistent direct-fire platform and is based on a highly modified MC-130J. Airframes are retrofitted after delivery with the modular Precision Strike management console, robust communications suite, two EO/IR sensors, advanced fire-control equipment, PGM delivery capability, and trainable cannons.
Block 20 added a 105 mm gun, laser-guided SDB, side-facing pilot tactical HUD, and Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM). Block 20+/30 improved gun accuracy, hardened GPS, and added Hellfire missile and Small Glide Munition.
AFSOC is now considering removing the 105 mm gun to reduce aircrew while adding AESA radar to improve range, accuracy, and all-weather targeting as well as automating mission and comm/nav systems. Block 30 upgrades are slated for completion in midFY25, bringing all AC-130Js to a common configuration.
Ongoing upgrades include radio frequency countermeasures (RFCM) to detect, locate, and respond to threats, LAIRCM defensive systems upgrades, and HF/VHF/UHF/SATCOM suite modernization.
AC-130J formal training was moved from AFSOC at Hurlburt to AETC at Kirtland in August 2024 after a year's delay to colocate special mission C-130 training pipelines.
AC-130J Ghostrider Technical Data
Contractors: Lockheed Martin, Sierra Nevada Corp (RFCM).
First Flight: Jan. 31, 2014.
Delivered: July 29, 2015-present.
IOC: Sept. 30, 2017.
Production: 31.
Inventory: 29.
Operator: AFSOC; Planned: AETC.
Aircraft Location: Hurlburt Field, Fla.; Cannon AFB, N.M. Planned: Kirtland AFB, N.M.
Active Variants: •AC-130J Ghostrider Block 20. Production standard gunship with additional 105 mm gun. •AC-130J Ghostrider Block 30. Production aircraft with post operational test upgrades.
Dimensions: Span 132.6 ft, length 97.7 ft, height 39.1 ft.
Weight: Max T-O 164,000 lb.
Power Plant: Four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprops, each 4,700 shp.
Performance: Speed 416 mph, range 3,000 miles (farther with air refueling).
Ceiling: 28,000 ft.
Armament: Trainable 30 mm GAU-23/A cannon; 105 mm cannon; up to eight wing pylon-mounted GBU-39 SDB or AGM-114 Hellfire; aft-firing GBU69B Small Glide Munition or AGM-176 Griffin (deployed from 10 Common Launch Tubes integrated into the aircraft’s ramp/door).
Accommodation: Two pilots, CSO, WSO, sensor operator, loadmaster, and three gunners.
