AC-130U gunship Crew Chief A1C. Jason Powell from the 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, attaches a panel back on to the plane during routine maintenance on Jan. 28, 2011, at Hurlburt Field, Fla. The AC-130U "Spooky" gunship is the primary weapon of Air Force Special Operations Command. Its primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. The U model is an upgraded version of the H and is equipped with side firing, trainable 25 mm, 40 mm, and 105 mm guns.