AC-130H/U Gunship - ABC News

— -- The AC-130 gunship's primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and force protection. These heavily armed aircraft incorporate side-firing weapons integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or area saturation during extended periods, at night and in adverse weather.

Primary Function: Close air support, air interdiction and force protection

Builder: Lockheed/Boeing Corp.

Nickname: AC-130H Spectre AC-130U Spooky

Power Plant: Four Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engines

Thrust: 4,910 shaft horsepower each engineLength: 97 feet, 9 inches (29.8 meters)

Height: 38 feet, 6 inches (11.7 meters)Wingspan: 132 feet, 7 inches (40.4 meters)

Speed: 300 mph (Mach .4) (at sea level)

Range: Approximately 1,300 nautical miles; unlimited with air refueling.

Ceiling: 25,000 feet (7,576 meters)

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 155,000 pounds (69,750 kilograms)

Armament: AC-130H/U: 40mm cannon and 105mm cannon; AC-130U: Also has 25mm Gatling gun. Guncrew: AC-130U - Five officers (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, fire control officer, electronic warfare officer) and eight enlisted (flight engineer, TV operator, infrared detection set operator, loadmaster, four aerial gunners)

Unit Cost: Between $132.4 million and $190 million

Inventory: Active duty: AC-130H, 8; AC-130U, 13; Reserve, 0; ANG, 0

Data courtesy of www.defenselink.org.

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