Lockheed AC - 130 Spectre The Lockheed AC - 130 Spectre is a heavily - armed ground - attack aircraft based on the Hercules C - 130 created to replace the AC - 47 Spooky . The basic airframe is manufactured by Lockheed , Boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support . History . The AC - 130 gunship ' s primary missions are close air support , air interdiction and armed reconnaissance . Other missions include perimeter and point defense , escort , landing , drop and extraction zone support , forward air control , limited command and control , and combat search and rescue . These heavily armed aircraft incorporate side - firing weapons integrated with sophisticated sensor , navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or area saturation during extended periods , at night and in adverse weather . The AC - 130 has been used effectively for over thirty years to take out ground defenses and targets . One drawback to using the AC - 130 is that it is typically only used in night assaults because of its poor maneuverability and limited orientations relative to the target during attack . During Vietnam War , gunships destroyed more than 10 , 000 trucks and were credited with many life - saving close air support missions . AC - 130s suppressed enemy air defense systems and attacked ground forces during Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada . This enabled the successful assault of Point Salines airfield via airdrop and airland of friendly forces . The gunships had a primary role during Operation Just Cause in Panama by destroying Panamanian Defense Force Headquarters and numerous command and control facilities by surgical employment of ordnance in an urban environment . As the only close air support platform in the theater , Spectres were credited with saving the lives of many friendly personnel . Both the H - models and A - models played key roles . The fighting was opened by a gunship attack on the military headquarters of the dictator of Panama and the outcome was never in doubt . All objectives were quickly accomplished and democracy was restored to Panama . During Operation Desert Storm , Spectres provided air base defense and close air support for ground forces . Both the AC - 130A and AC - 130H gunships were part of the international force assembled in the Persian Gulf region to drive out of Kuwait which Saddam Hussein had invaded in early August 1990 . In the following January , the allies launched the actual war known as Desert Storm following the Desert Shield build - up . Victory was accomplished in a few weeks and Kuwait was set free of the foreign invader . Iraq shot down one AC - 130H gunship . It resulted in the loss of all 14 crewmembers , the largest single air power loss of the war . Post war restriction on Iraq required the presence of gunships to enforce them . AC - 130s were also used during Operations Continue Hope and United Shield in Somalia , providing close air support for United Nations ground forces . The gunships played a pivotal role during operations in support of the NATO mission in Bosnia - Herzegovina , providing air interdiction against key targets in the Sarajevo area . The Naval Surface Warfare Center , Dahlgren Division ( NSWCDD ) , on behalf of Air Force Special Operations Command ( AFSOC ) requested information in 2005 that may lead to the acquisition and qualification of a family of 120mm mortar ammunition for enhancing the AC - 130 Gunship Lethality and Survivability . Sources Sought N00178 - 05 - Q - 1925 was posted 18 August 2005 to Federal Business Opportunities ( FBO ) . NSWCDD and AFSOC are seeking information on any ( guided or conventional ) 120mm mortar round that is currently fielded , currently a Program of Record ( POR ) , or technology mature enough to enter into an ACTD or similar demonstration . The 120mm mortar concept shall offer benefits to the AC - 130 fleet through : Employment flexibility through use of munitions currently available ; Greater lethality through more fragmentation weight and greater blast damage ; Precision strike capability ; Increased standoff range and attack altitude while maintaining responsiveness ; Reduction in collateral damage ; and Reduction in danger close distance when supporting troops in contact . For the 105 - mm gun , 100 rounds weighs 4200 lbs . The recoil load is about 10 , 900 lbs , with a gun Recoiling Weight of 1 , 465 lbs . The muzzle pressure is 3 , 560 psi . It is a legacy system being phased out of the US Army inventory . There is little guided technology ongoing . For the 120 - mm mortar , 100 Rounds weighs 3200 lbs . This weapon has a recoil Load of ~ 5 , 600 lbs with a gun weight of 1 , 315 lbs . The muzzle pressure is 1 , 620 psi . This is the leading FCS fire support weapon and the Stryker Brigade Combat Team fire support weapon . There is a lot of Guided Munition development work ongoing . Specifications . Armament . AC - 130A Spectre Gunship ( Prior to circa 2000 ) ( Current Armament )