---
title: "The AC-130 ‘Ultimate Battle Plane’ Is Getting Even More Firepower"
description: "![]() *Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons*"
date: "2018-04-02"
modified: "2020-10-21"
authors:
  - name: "Paul Szoldra"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/paul/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/ac130-weapons-upgrade-afsoc/"
categories:
  - "Air Force"
  - "Aircraft"
  - "History"
  - "Tactical"
---

# The AC-130 ‘Ultimate Battle Plane’ Is Getting Even More Firepower

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17213221/origin.jpg>)

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17213220/origin.jpg>)
*Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons*

---

Air Force Special Operations Command is taking the mantra of "you can never have too much firepower" to heart.

The AC-130 — a modified cargo plane-turned-close air support platform outfitted [with a deadly array of weaponry](<https://www.businessinsider.com/ac-130-spectre-gunship-owns-night-with-close-air-support-2013-2>) — is about to get a big weapons upgrade, to include another 105mm cannon added to the rear of the plane.

### Also Read: [V-22 Osprey Rockin' Rockets Now](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/v-22-osprey-rockin-rockets-now/>)[ ](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/meet-military-veterans-creating-favorite-comic-books/>)

"I want to have two guns," AFSOC Commander Lt. Gen. Bradley Heithold said at a recent Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla, while also calling it "the ultimate battle plane," according to the Air Force Times.

The Air Force Times [has more:](<https://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/tech/2015/02/12/afsoc-adds-cannon-new-ac-130j-gunship/23299727/>)

AFSOC plans to add a 105mm cannon to the rear of the plane. That is in addition to the weapons the aircraft is already slated to carry — dual electro-optical infrared sensors, a 30mm cannon, AGM-176A Griffin missiles, all-weather synthetic aperture radar and GBU-30 small diameter bombs. The package was developed to let the gunship identify friendlies and targets at night and in adverse weather.

The upgraded AC-130J "Ghostrider" is currently in the test phase and is slated to replace the AC-130H "Spectre," AC-130U "Spooky," and the AC-130W "Stinger II."

With sophisticated sensors and electronics, the plane is a favorite among ground troops in need of close air support. The AC-130 was used extensively over the skies of Fallujah in 2004, where a reporter embedded with the Marines there [remarked](<https://www.businessinsider.com/ac-130-spectre-gunship-owns-night-with-close-air-support-2013-2?op=1>): "It's the air power that really \[tipped\] the balance towards the Marines."

### NOW: [This Powerful Film Tells How Marines Fought 'One Day Of Hell' In Fallujah ](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/november-war-fallujah-iraq-marines/>)

### OR: [This Remarkable Video Shows What It's Like For Medevac Crews To Rescue Troops Under Fire ](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/intel/medevac-rescue-afghanistan/>)

## Author
After serving nearly a decade in the U.S. Marines, Paul created [Duffel Blog](<https://www.duffelblog.com>), a site often called "The Onion of the military." Before joining WATM, he reported on defense, tech, and breaking news as the west coast editor for Business Insider. You can learn more [at his website.](<https://www.paulszoldra.com>)