Lockheed AC-130U Spooky / AC-130W Stinger II
Lockheed Martin · Gunship / Close Air Support / Close Air Support / Armed Overwatch · USA · Early Jet (1946–1969)
The Lockheed AC-130 (Spectre / Spooky / Stinger II / Ghostrider) is an American four-engine turboprop gunship — USAF Air Force Special Operations Command's principal heavy gunship + the most-heavily-armed combat aircraft in modern service. The AC-130 is a Lockheed C-130 Hercules airframe with heavy side-firing weapons installed. Development began 1965 (AC-130A); subsequent variants include AC-130E (1971), AC-130H Spectre (1973), AC-130U Spooky II (1991), AC-130W Stinger II (2010), AC-130J Ghostrider (2015). About 80 AC-130s have been built across all variants. The aircraft serves USAF AFSOC + Marine Corps Special Operations Command.
The AC-130J (current variant) uses the standard C-130J Super Hercules airframe + 4 × Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprop engines. Maximum speed 670 km/h, range 5,200 km, endurance 12+ hours. Armament: 1 × 105 mm M102 howitzer (port side, firing through gun port) + 1 × 30 mm Bushmaster autocannon + AGM-114 Hellfire missiles + GBU-39 SDB precision bombs + AGM-176 Griffin missiles. Crew: 7-13 (varies by variant). The aircraft's combination of long loiter time + heavy precision fire + integrated targeting sensors makes it the most-capable close-air-support platform for special-operations forces.
AC-130 service spans every major U.S. combat operation since Vietnam War. Vietnam combat: AC-130 Spectres destroyed ~10,000 trucks + 1,000 tanks on the Ho Chi Minh Trail 1968-1975. Subsequent combat: Grenada 1983, Panama 1989, Desert Storm 1991 (Battle of Khafji — AC-130 "Spirit 03" was lost to Iraqi SAM fire), Bosnia 1990s, Afghanistan 2001-2021 (Operation Enduring Freedom), Iraq 2003-2011, Syria + Libya + Yemen + Somalia counter-terror operations through 2026. About 30 AC-130s remain active in 2026 across multiple AFSOC + USMC squadrons.
For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version
The AC-130 is a powerful American gunship plane. It is built on the C-130 Hercules, a large cargo aircraft. Engineers added big guns to the side of the plane. This turned a cargo hauler into one of the most heavily armed planes ever made.
Four turboprop engines power the AC-130. It can fly for over 12 hours without stopping. That is longer than most movies you have ever watched! It can travel more than 5,000 kilometers on a single mission.
The AC-130 carries some very large weapons. One of them is a howitzer, which is a type of big cannon. It also carries a fast-firing 30mm cannon and guided missiles. All of these weapons fire out from the side of the plane.
The crew on an AC-130 can have between 7 and 13 people. Each person has an important job to do. Some fly the plane while others aim the weapons. Special sensors help the crew spot targets far below, even at night.
About 80 AC-130s have been built in total. The newest version is called the AC-130J Ghostrider. It has been used in almost every American combat operation since the late 1960s. It remains one of the most important planes in the American military today.
Fun Facts
- The AC-130 can stay in the air for more than 12 hours on a single flight!
- It carries a howitzer — the same type of giant cannon used by ground armies.
- The AC-130J Ghostrider is faster than a speeding race car, reaching about 670 kilometers per hour.
- All of the AC-130's guns fire out from the left side of the aircraft.
- The AC-130 is larger than a school bus and can carry a crew of up to 13 people.
- About 80 of these gunships have been built across many different versions.
- The AC-130 has been used in every major American combat operation since 1968.
- Its nickname 'Spooky' makes it sound scary — and enemies on the ground thought so too!
Kids’ Questions
What makes the AC-130 special compared to other planes?
The AC-130 carries heavier weapons than almost any other plane flying today. It also has sensors that help it see targets clearly at night. It can circle over one spot for many hours, which most fast jets cannot do.
How does the AC-130 fire its weapons?
The guns are mounted on the left side of the plane. The pilot flies the plane in a circle around a target. This keeps the guns pointed at the ground the whole time. It is a clever way to aim from a moving aircraft.
What are the different versions of the AC-130?
There have been many versions over the years. Early ones include the AC-130A and the AC-130E. Later came the AC-130H Spectre and the AC-130U Spooky. The newest version today is the AC-130J Ghostrider, which entered service in 2015.
Who flies and operates the AC-130?
The AC-130 is flown by the American Air Force and Marine special operations teams. The crew can have between 7 and 13 people depending on the version. Each crew member has a special role, from flying the plane to operating the weapons and sensors.
Variants
- AC-130A / E / H Spectre
- Early variants. ~50 built.
- AC-130U Spooky II
- Refined 1991 variant. 17 built.
- AC-130W Stinger II + AC-130J Ghostrider
- Modern AFSOC + USMC variants. ~30 built + continuing.
Notable Operators
- USAF Air Force Special Operations Command
- Principal user. ~25 AC-130W + J variants.
- USMC Special Operations Command
- Recent USMC operator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How heavy is the AC-130's armament?
105 mm howitzer + 30 mm autocannon + missiles + precision bombs — by far the heaviest armament fitted to any in-service aircraft. The 105 mm M102 howitzer can destroy hardened structures + light vehicles with single hits; the 30 mm Bushmaster autocannon fires 200 rounds per minute against vehicles + personnel. Combined with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles + GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs + integrated targeting sensors, the AC-130 can hit 8+ targets per minute with precision fires. No other in-service aircraft has comparable concentrated firepower.
Sources
See Also
- Lockheed C-130 Hercules — Direct airframe basis
- Fairchild AC-119 Shadow — Predecessor Vietnam-War gunship
- Douglas AC-47 Spooky — Earlier Vietnam-War gunship