{"id":32719,"date":"2022-11-12T16:53:50","date_gmt":"2022-11-12T16:53:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2022\/11\/12\/pentagon-quietly-downsizes-us-special-operations-fleet-of-gunships\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:32:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:32:08","slug":"pentagon-quietly-downsizes-us-special-operations-fleet-of-gunships","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/battlefield-tech\/2022\/11\/12\/pentagon-quietly-downsizes-us-special-operations-fleet-of-gunships\/","title":{"rendered":"Pentagon quietly downsizes US Special Operations fleet of gunships"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Pentagon has quietly cut procurement of its new AC-130J Ghostrider special operations gunships, downsizing the fleet to 30 from 37.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. Special Operations Command had planned to buy nearly 40 Ghostriders to replace older gunships: the AC-130H Spectre, AC-130W Stinger II and AC-130U Spooky. Each of those 37 aircraft are now retired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rather than swap out the airframes one-for-one as expected, SOCOM wants to end the decade-long AC-130J acquisition seven short of the full program.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2016\/10\/25\/meet-the-air-force-s-ultimate-battle-plane-and-your-new-close-air-support\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/c-130j-1.JPG.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Meet the Air Force\u2019s \u2018ultimate battle plane\u2019 and your new close-air support<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">When it hits the battlefield in a few short years, the AC-130J Ghostrider will be the most heavily armed gunship in history \u2013 a badass plane providing close-air support to U.S. troops on the ground, and delivering withering firepower that will send enemies running for the hills.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SOCOM tucked mentions of the change into its fiscal 2023 budget request, writing that it would maintain a total of 30 AC-130Js. Each airframe costs $165 million apiece, according to an Air Force fact sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The military has purchased 31 of the gunships from Lockheed Martin for combat purposes, but will not replace one that was flown too hard during testing and is no longer airworthy. That plane now serves to train airmen on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere is no buy planned in [fiscal] 2024,\u201d SOCOM said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The military opted to pursue a smaller AC-130J fleet as a way to \u201cbetter position [Air Force Special Operations Command] for the future fight,\u201d spokesperson Lt. Col. Becky Heyse said Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe C-130Js were already purchased and it was decided to not modify them to become AC-130J (extensive mods required to add the gun and other capabilities),\u201d Heyse said. \u201cThe remaining C-130Js are going to the 193rd [Special Operations Squadron as MC-130Js to recapitalize their fleet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2019\/03\/11\/afsoc-gets-latest-most-advanced-ac-130j-gunship\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AC-130J-delivery-3.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">AFSOC gets latest, most advanced AC-130J gunship<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">It remains unclear whether this Block 30 Ghostrider is able to carry Hellfire missiles.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The final AC-130J arrived at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, on Nov. 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe airplane and its predecessors have exceeded all our expectations and kept more Americans alive than any other airplane on the battlefield,\u201d Air Force Special Operations Command boss Lt. Gen. Jim Slife said at the delivery ceremony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The remaining 30 Ghostriders are stationed at Cannon and Hurlburt Field, Florida. The schoolhouse is slated to move from Hurlburt to Kirtland AFB, New Mexico, by October 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AC-130 gunships have been a combat mainstay since the Vietnam War and are constantly deployed for conventional and special operations missions around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two pilots, one combat systems officer, one weapon system operator, one sensor operator and four special mission aviators comprise the Ghostrider\u2019s crew.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2021\/06\/25\/ac-130j-gunship-team-honored-for-saving-88-americans-afghans-in-overseas-shootout\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1000w_q95-27.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">AC-130J gunship team honored for saving 88 Americans, Afghans in overseas shootout<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Another AC-130J Ghostrider team has been recognized for their combat valor in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The newest J-model is said to be the most heavily armed gunship in history, with the ability to tout 30mm and 105mm cannons, AGM-176A Griffin missiles, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs. It has also acted as a testbed for an experimental high-energy laser weapon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe AC-130J provides ground forces an expeditionary, persistent direct-fire platform that is persistent, ideally suited for urban operations and delivers precision low-yield munitions against ground targets,\u201d according to the Air Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Spurred in part by the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan last year, the military is now turning its attention to hardware and software that could give it the upper hand in competition against advanced militaries like China.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2022\/03\/14\/air-force-special-ops-chief-says-its-time-to-embrace-new-missions\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1000w_q95-2-3.jpg-3.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Air Force special ops chief says it\u2019s time to embrace new missions<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">&quot;The idea that anybody at the headquarters thinks special tactics is irrelevant and should be disbanded is patently false.&quot;<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s led to decisions to divest and downsize aircraft that may be less useful in those scenarios, including the Air Force\u2019s move to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2022\/08\/12\/combat-rescue-helicopter-cuts-trigger-cost-overrun-air-force-says\/\">shrink its combat search-and-rescue helicopter fleet<\/a> by about 25 airframes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AFSOC is likewise exploring what the next chapter could look like for its elite airmen. Slife has indicated the command could venture farther into the space and cyber realms, and figure out how to adapt traditional missions like close air support for a more challenging fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe future is going to be different than what we have experienced for the last 20 years,\u201d Slife said. \u201cOne thing I\u2019m certain of is, this airplane will be relevant to whatever the future operating environment brings.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SOCOM tucked mentions of the change into its fiscal 2023 budget request.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":71593,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":7,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"8":{"categories":["home","budget","management","acquisition","acquisition-update","newsletters"],"primary_category":"home"}}},"categories":[7,29,32],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3356],"class_list":["post-32719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-battlefield-tech","category-home","category-newsletters"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"5WMZKP4HNFEJBK6CH5PRTQFUEY","arc_canonical_url":"\/battlefield-tech\/2022\/11\/12\/pentagon-quietly-downsizes-us-special-operations-fleet-of-gunships\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Pentagon quietly downsizes US Special Operations fleet of gunships - C4ISRNet<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"SOCOM tucked mentions of the change into its fiscal 2023 budget request.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pentagon quietly downsizes US Special Operations fleet of gunships\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"SOCOM tucked mentions of the change into its fiscal 2023 budget request.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/battlefield-tech\/2022\/11\/12\/pentagon-quietly-downsizes-us-special-operations-fleet-of-gunships\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"C4ISRNet\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-11-12T16:53:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T18:32:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Rachel S. 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Cohen\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/c4isrnet\\\/battlefield-tech\\\/2022\\\/11\\\/12\\\/pentagon-quietly-downsizes-us-special-operations-fleet-of-gunships\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/c4isrnet\\\/battlefield-tech\\\/2022\\\/11\\\/12\\\/pentagon-quietly-downsizes-us-special-operations-fleet-of-gunships\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/c4isrnet\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            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