fltsload Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Special Operations Command plans to convert eight existing C-130 variants into multi-role gunships to support the wars in Iraq in Afghanistan. As part of the fiscal 2010 budget, the Defense Department has set aside $31.6 million to begin equipping eight MC-130Ws with limited gunship capability, according to budget documents. The additional firepower will buttress the two dozen aging AC-130H/U Spectre and Spooky gunships, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Air Force Secretary Michael Donley told members of Congress during a May hearing. The AC-130s are in high demand in Iraq and Afghanistan for night-time flyovers. According to the Defense Department’s special operations budget, existing MC-130s would be modified to include “an armed over-watch capability including sensors, communication systems, precision guided munitions and a single medium-caliber gun.†Gunship recapitalization has rated high on Special Operations Command’s wish list, according to analyst Roger Carstens, a former Army special operator, in a paper titled “The Future of Special Operations Forces.†The eight converted MC-130Ws would have a modular weapons system allowing the plane to be easily reconfigured for other special operations missions, unlike more traditional gunships with fixed gun positions, said Special Operations Command spokesman, Maj. Wes Ticer. The MC-130W Combat Spear flies missions that include moving assets and troops in and out of forward areas and aerial refueling of special operations helicopters. The latest plan to convert MC-130Ws is less ambitious than an earlier proposal to field a fleet of 16 C-27 gunships. The light-cargo Spartan would have been modified to act as a more agile companion to the existing fleet. Those plans were scrapped after the C-27 original buy of 75 aircraft was cut in half and the Army was dropped from the joint program. The new Air Force gunship plan has similarities with a bid from the Marine Corps to create its own modular gunship. The Corps has is soliciting a contract with Lockheed Martin to develop the three Harvest Hawks, a KC-130J with a targeting sensor, operating station, Hellfire missiles and 30mm cannon, according to a proposal from Naval Air Systems Command. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddddyyyy Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 (edited) I agree with fltsload Edited June 4, 2009 by bobdaley spambot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fitzferrari Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Do it these people are crazy and should be short lived! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc130fe Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Making for some interesting times in the unit theses days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agarrett Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Making for some interesting times in the unit theses days Hey man, your avatar is already in an orbit. Just tell them how much fun it is blowing stuff up. You remember eh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF4DVG Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 Sounds like an act of desperation..... assests are needed now, but future plans for new MDS's are falling like sand thru their fingers. Our troops talent without the proper tools is such a waste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc130fe Posted June 9, 2009 Share Posted June 9, 2009 Hey man, your avatar is already in an orbit. Just tell them how much fun it is blowing stuff up. You remember eh. You know I started my AFSOC career in a left hand orbit and it looks like I will finsh back that way. Seems like it always comes back full circle (or I mean orbit). Tell all the boys in Hurby chello for me. Rumors has it you're heading out here to teach the H-moel guys??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agarrett Posted June 11, 2009 Share Posted June 11, 2009 You know I started my AFSOC career in a left hand orbit and it looks like I will finsh back that way. Seems like it always comes back full circle (or I mean orbit). Tell all the boys in Hurby chello for me. Rumors has it you're heading out here to teach the H-moel guys??? I keep trying to kill that rumor but it pops back up. I've been here 30+ years so I'm dug in pretty deep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdaley Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 Has 88-1803 been made into a wombat yet? Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc130fe Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Hit the ramp here at Cannon as a Whisky this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobdaley Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 Thanks Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RZHill Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 Has 88-1803 been made into a wombat yet? Bob Sure that isn't 88-1303? RZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plaprad Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 ugh.....1303, pain in my @$$! You guys can have that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RZHill Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 That WAS a great plane, what happened RZ Hill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc130fe Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 Also, my bad...gettting old I guess, correct 88-1303 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plaprad Posted June 14, 2009 Share Posted June 14, 2009 We had it out at Functional when it was done, never seen so many off the wall problems as that thing. Took almost a month to fix pressurization. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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