Aircraft & UAVs

AC-130 gunship

The AC-130 gunship is a side-firing U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command attack aircraft family derived from the C-130 Hercules. Modern AC-130U, AC-130W, and AC-130J variants combine sensors, fire-control systems, cannon armament, and precision-guided munitions for close air support, armed reconnaissance, air interdiction, and overwatch, roles documented in Afghanistan during Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Resolute Support, and the Kabul evacuation.

War in AfghanistanUnited States and Afghan government forces

Conflict side: United States and Afghan government forces
Built by: Lockheed Martin
Built in: United States

AC-130 gunship, Heavily armed fixed-wing gunship, Aircraft & UAVs

Image source: AFSOC AC-130J Ghostrider Fact Sheet

Profile

Type: Heavily armed fixed-wing gunship
Conflict side: United States and Afghan government forces
Origin: United States
Service note: Vietnam War origin; AC-130U/W/J variants used during post-2015 Afghanistan operations

aircraft close air support precision firesspecial operationsstrike

Service History

In service: AC-130U and AC-130W served in Afghanistan; AC-130J reached initial operational capability in 2017 and replaced earlier gunship variants.
Used by: U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command
Wars: War in Afghanistan, Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Resolute Support Mission

Production History

Designer: Lockheed Martin and U.S. special operations aviation integration programs
Designed: AC-130 gunship lineage entered service during the Vietnam War; AC-130J development completed initial operational testing in 2015
Built by: Lockheed Martin
Built in: United States
Unit cost: AC-130J: about $165 million
Produced: AC-130J deliveries completed in November 2022
Number built: AC-130J inventory planned at 37 active-duty aircraft by FY2024
Variants: AC-130H Spectre, AC-130U Spooky, AC-130W Stinger II, AC-130J Ghostrider

Specifications

Crew: AC-130J: 2 pilots, 2 combat systems officers, and 4 special mission aviators
Armament: AC-130J Precision Strike Package with trainable 30 mm and 105 mm weapons plus standoff precision-guided munitions such as GBU-39, GBU-69, AGM-114 Hellfire, and AGM-176 Griffin
Maximum takeoff weight: 164,000 lb for AC-130J
Range: About 3,000 miles; operational endurance limited by crew duty day and extendable with aerial refueling
Powerplant: Four Rolls-Royce AE 2100D3 turboprops rated at 4,700 shaft horsepower each
Dimensions: Wingspan 132 ft 7 in; length 97 ft 9 in; height 39 ft 2 in

Conflict Usage

War in Afghanistan: Side: United States and Afghan government forcesRole: Danger-close close air support and armed overwatchclose air support precision fires strike
U.S. AC-130 gunships were used in post-2015 Afghanistan for close air support, precision fires, and overwatch of U.S., coalition, and Afghan partner forces, including documented AC-130U actions near Kunduz in 2016, a 2018 Ranger-Afghan special operations ambush, a 2019 Nangarhar mission, and AC-130W overwatch during the 2021 Kabul evacuation.

AC-130 gunship Images

AC-130 gunship, Heavily armed fixed-wing gunship, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1 — Source: AFSOC AC-130J Ghostrider Fact Sheet

AC-130 gunship, Heavily armed fixed-wing gunship, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2 — Source: AFSOC AC-130J Ghostrider Fact Sheet

AC-130 gunship, Heavily armed fixed-wing gunship, Aircraft & UAVs - view 3 — Source: AFSOC AC-130J Ghostrider Fact Sheet

AC-130 gunship, Heavily armed fixed-wing gunship, Aircraft & UAVs - view 4 — Source: AFSOC AC-130J Ghostrider Fact Sheet

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Sources

AFSOC AC-130J Ghostrider Fact SheetPublisher: U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command | Note: Supports AC-130J mission, features, Lockheed Martin contractor context, armament, specifications, replacement of AC-130U/W variants, and public-domain AC-130J image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider Fact SheetPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports AC-130J general characteristics including crew, armament, range, dimensions, unit cost, deployment date, and inventory. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Heroic Spooky 43 Aircrew Receives the Mackay TrophyPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports War in Afghanistan direct use: AC-130U gunship used by United States and Afghan government forces for close air support near Kunduz, Afghanistan, on Nov. 2, 2016. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Special Tactics TACP Awarded Silver Star Medal for Afghan AmbushPublisher: U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command | Note: Supports War in Afghanistan direct use: AC-130 gunship used by United States and Afghan government forces to fire 40 mm and 105 mm rounds during an April 2018 Afghanistan ambush under Operation Freedom's Sentinel and Resolute Support. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Gunship Crew Awarded 14 Medals for Joint SOF Afghanistan MissionPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Supports War in Afghanistan direct use: AC-130U Spooky gunship used by United States and coalition forces near Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan, on April 3-4, 2019, during Operation Freedom's Sentinel in support of Resolute Support. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 AC-130W Static Display UnveiledPublisher: Cannon Air Force Base | Note: Supports War in Afghanistan direct use: AC-130W Stinger II used by United States and coalition forces for nightly overwatch during the 2021 Kabul evacuation and final Afghanistan combat mission; also supports public-domain AC-130W image provenance. | Accessed: 2026-06-21