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By Frank Wolfe
Task Force Warlord, an Air Force project to examine existing and future capabilities for the AC-130U gunship, is advocating the near- term replacement of the aircraft's 25mm gatling and 40mm guns with two 30mm guns and favors the fielding of a precision 105mm round for the gunship's howitzer, a service official told Defense Daily in a telephone interview yesterday.
The 30mm single shot gun would replace the 40mm gun now used by the gunship, while the 30mm GAU-8 gatling gun would replace the 25mm gatling gun now carried by the gunship, said Air Force Col. Sam Ryals, director of Aeronautical Systems Center's Special Operations Forces System Program Office.
The 30mm single shot would provide a precision, "sniper rifle" capability, like the 40mm now carried, while the GAU-8 "does two things," Ryals said. "It provides commonality with the A-10 and provides a common bullet enabling SOCOM to capitalize on Air Force munitions stocks."
The GAU-8 gatling gun, used for area suppression, is also carried on the Air Force's A-10 Warthog attack plane. Air Force Special Operations Command now operates eight AC-130Hs and 13 AC-130Us. The U-model is armed with the 25mm gun, the 40mm cannon and the 105mm howitzer.
During Operation Enduring Freedom...