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AC-130H Spectre Gunship - USAF
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All gunships evolved from the AC-47 - the first operational gunship. This was followed by the AC-130A and then the AC-130E. The AC-130H Spectre is very similar to the AC-130E but with improved engines that allows the aircraft to still fly with two engines down. The AC-130U Spooky is the final development of the gunship. The AC-130 gunship's primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and force protection. Close air support involves contact with troops on the ground, convoy escort and urban operations. Air interdiction missions are conducted against preplanned targets or targets of opportunity. Force protection missions include defense of air bases and facilities. These heavily armed aircraft incorporate side-firing weapons integrated with sophisticated sensor, navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or area saturation during extended loiter periods, at night and in adverse weather. The sensor suite consists of a television sensor, infrared sensor and radar which allow the gunship to visually or electronically identify friendly ground forces and targets any place, any time. The AC-130 gunship has a combat history dating to Vietnam. In that conflict gunships destroyed more than 10,000 trucks and were credited with many life-saving close air support missions. During Operation Urgent Fury (Grenada, 1983) AC-130s suppressed enemy air defense systems and attacked ground forces enabling the successful assault of the Point Salines Airfield by air dropped and air landed friendly forces. AC-130s also had a primary role during Operation Just Cause (Panama, 1989) when they destroyed Panamanian Defense Force Headquarters and numerous other command and control facilities. During Operation Desert Storm, AC-130s provided close air support and force protection for ground forces. In Somalia gunships provided close air support for United Nations ground forces during operations Continue Hope and United Shield. Gunships also played a pivotal role in supporting the NATO mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina and the AC-130H provided air interdiction against key targets in the Sarajevo area. In 1997, gunships were diverted from Italy to provide combat air support for US and Allied ground troops during the evacuation of American noncombatants in Albania. Gunships also were part of the buildup of US forces in 1998 to convince Iraq to comply with UN weapons inspections. Spectre and Spooky gunships continued to be employed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and, more recently, during the Iraq War where they provided armed reconnaissance, interdiction and direct support of ground troops engaged with enemy forces. Specifications: AC-130H
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