MillenniumHerc

either way could you push those fires through Clovis? Many thanks.

I always loved the "I'm a gunship guy and you're a homo" bumper stickers.

The Air Force plans to launch an initiative in Fiscal 201l to acquire 16 new gunships based on modified, new-build MC-130J special operations tankers that are outfitted with a "precision strike package" to give them an attack capability, according to newly released budget documents and defense officials. The Air Force is requesting $1.6 billion from Fiscal 2011 through 2015 for this recapitalization. These aircraft would increase the size of the Air Force's highly taxed gunship fleet to 33 aircraft, a net increase of eight, after accounting for the planned retirement of eight aging AC-130Hs, Vice Adm. Stephen Stanley, director of force structure and resources on the Joint Staff, told reporters Monday when discussing the Pentagon's 2011 budget proposal. The first aircraft would be bought in Fiscal 2012, followed by two in Fiscal 2013, five in Fiscal 2014, and the final eight in Fiscal 2015.

source?

Inflight Aerial Refuel System?

It has UARRSI and HARM in this version

Integrated Air Refuelling System - MC-130H and MC-130W. Each refuelling

station consists of an Integrate Air Refuelling System (IARS) refuelling pod, 26.5 m (87 ft)

of hose, a MA-4A reception coupling, and a variable drag drogue (VDD) with an inside

diameter of 0.68 m (24 inch).

why no IARS?

They were actually briefing that last year. No sh*t.

No shit?

I just wrote it off as T2 elitism from this guy not wanting to be out done.

well I stand corrected.

Yeah, exactly like the older gunships....except not even close.

Oh yeah, just roll it onto ANY C-130....then cut a hole, glue on an extra sensor and weld on a new cargo door...it's that easy!

Some clown tried to tell me they were testing this on the W for the Talon II...I'm literally spit my drink in his face laughing.

(Sarcasm)

Socom Refines AC-130J Gunship Plans

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...unship%20Plans

U.S. Special Operations Command (Socom) is planning to base its future AC-130J gunship on the modular “Precision Strike Package†that it is quietly and quickly fielding on the MC-130W.

This is a major departure from today’s AC-130H/U configuration, which wields the characteristic side-mounted 105-mm. howitzer and a 40-mm. gun. The decision also reflects a shift in the command’s approach to purchasing new weapons, indicating a bent toward a rapidly achievable, low-cost program using a joint task force for purchasing.

At one point, Air Force Special Operations Command officials were hoping for a stealthy gunship capable of deploying high-energy weapons. And last year, they were eyeing a C-27J-based gunship, which would have been a smaller cousin to the large C-130 based designs, but that effort was dashed by Congress.

The Quadrennial Defense Review released in February, however, mandates the replacement of eight legacy AC-130H Spectre gunships with eight new AC‑130Js. Another eight will be purchased to grow the fleet, bringing the total new buy to 16. The Air Force will retain the 17 AC-130Us now in operation, so the future gunship fleet will number 33.

Gunships are in very high demand to support ground troops with day/night precision fires in Iraq, Afghanistan and other operations abroad; the increased pace of operations has resulted in high wear and tear on the fleet, prompting the need for additional airframes.

Socom’s new approach to a gunship design is part of its attempt to standardize platforms in order to ease procurement, cost of maintenance and logistics, and operations. Today’s fleet consists of few numbers of varied platforms.

Officials also hope a modular design will allow for fast addition of new capabilities for precise close air support and upgrades in the future, Socom Deputy Acquisition Director James Geurts tells Aviation Week. “Instead of having a family of airplanes now, think of it as having a family of precision strike capabilities that we can port onto different [special Operations Forces] platforms,†he says. “I can just pick it up and put it on an [MC-130W], and we are going to put it on the [AC-130]J. So that is a mind-set change from a couple of years ago.â€

Socom is in the midst of preparing what it calls the Precision Strike Package, a rapidly reconfigurable collection of sensors, communications and weapons, for fielding soon, Geurts says. A specific date was not provided due to mission security. The package includes electro-optical and infrared targeting systems, the 35-50-lb. Special Operations Precision Guided Munitions (Sopgms) and a side-mounted 30-mm. gun. The Sopgms—Northrop Grumman’s Viper Strike and Raytheon’s Griffin weapons—will be launched through tubes mounted on the MC-130W’s ramp. The gun will be bolted to the floor and hang through the side of the fuselage; it will be removable depending on mission requirements.

This configuration differs from the U.S. Marine Corps’ palletized, roll-on/roll-off weaponization kit for its KC‑130J refuelers. Testing of this so-called Harvest Hawk system will wrap up this month, and it will deploy to Afghanistan shortly thereafter, according to Maj. J.P. Pellegrino, KC-130 requirements officer for the Marine Corps. The second and third kits are slated for operations in the fall, and nine will be purchased by the service. This kit was developed to provide suppressive fire, while Socom’s work is aimed at precision.

Socom’s Dragon Spear, the marriage of the MC-130W and the Precision Strike Package, grew out of an urgent requirement passed down by Defense Secretary Robert Gates for the rapid deployment of more armed overwatch assets. The MC-130W Combat Spear is designed to provide covert infiltration and exfiltration of elite forces, and it was selected as the first platform to carry this new precision strike capability.

sounds alot like high speed low alt drops that have been going on forever in the AFSOC world...maybe i'm wrong...i am drunk

If its 12 there are 2 at Robins that might fit the bill, 87-9288 and 90-1058.

Bob

Those are W's alright.

mushroom swiss bacon meatloft sounds good,have to find a receipe for that

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Bacon-Mushroom-Swiss-Meatloaf/Detail.aspx

I cooked a Swiss mushroom bacon meatloaf on a recent TDY. Assembled it the night prior, took off threw it in the galley and it should have taken 2 hours at 350 but the damn thing quit on us getting the loaf to a nice med rare 140..we still ate it and it turned out pretty good, would have been better fully cooked though.

some folks call the H2s mod-ed for the Whisky model 2.5s, not sure how accurate that is, but they do have many H3 features... 90kva generators, ARC-231s, -241 radar, etc, etc.

Include me please!

[email protected]

Just had her out on a MLAT and she was the one that made every flight...good job girl.

Only because she stole parts from 1308!