How Powerful is the New AC-130J Ghostrider

How Powerful is the New AC-130J Ghostrider | World War Wings Videos

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Improving Perfection

The AC-130 was already a well-respected ground-attack and close-air support gunship, but its newest variant might just push it to a whole other level.

Its latest version, the AC-130J Ghostrider, started development as part of a 2011 initiative to acquire more gunships based on the MC-130J Combat Shadow II variant.

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The US aimed to increase the size of its gunship fleet to 33 aircraft by fitting an excellent precision strike package to the Combat Shadow II.

AC-130Js were delivered in 2015 with two planned Block configurations. Its Block 10 configuration features SDBs, laser-guided missiles, and an internal 30mm gun. Meanwhile, its Block 20 configuration would add a new 105 mm cannon, Hellfires on its wings, and infrared and radio-frequency countermeasures.

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The AC-130J even expects a directed-energy weapon that can produce a beam to destroy AA missiles in the future, replacing its 30 mm in the process.

With how many upgrades are still lined up for the Ghostrider to receive, itโ€™s entirely plausible to expected that this gunship will still be in service for a few more years.

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