{"id":23147,"date":"2021-04-25T18:02:53","date_gmt":"2021-04-25T18:02:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2021\/04\/25\/ac-130j-ghostrider-flies-close-air-support-at-exercise-balikatan-a-first\/"},"modified":"2026-08-20T16:06:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T16:06:10","slug":"ac-130j-ghostrider-flies-close-air-support-at-exercise-balikatan-a-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/training-sim\/2021\/04\/25\/ac-130j-ghostrider-flies-close-air-support-at-exercise-balikatan-a-first\/","title":{"rendered":"AC-130J Ghostrider flies close-air support at Exercise Balikatan, a first"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A U.S. Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider gunship, in the Philippines for the first time, supported close-air support training for a bilateral team of U.S. and Filipino battlefield airmen this week during <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2021\/04\/12\/us-philippines-stage-scaled-down-military-drills-amid-pandemic\/\" target=_blank>Exercise Balikatan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Ghostrider, assigned to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2016\/10\/25\/meet-the-air-force-s-ultimate-battle-plane-and-your-new-close-air-support\/\" target=_blank>the 73rd Special Operations Squadron<\/a> out of Hurlburt Field, Florida, deployed from Kadena Air Base, Japan, to the Philippines and fired its 30mm and 105mm cannons on targets called in by combat controllers with Kadena\u2019s 320th Special Tactics Squadron and joint terminal attack controllers with the Philippine air force\u2019s 710th Special Operations Wing, according to a news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The deployment also marked the first time the updated J model of the AC-130 has landed in or operated in Japan.<\/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\">\u201cThis training shows a projection of power and displays the reach of the AC-130J,\u201d said Capt. Aaron Boudreau, a Ghostrider pilot with the 73rd and AC-130J liaison for Exercise Balikatan, in the release. \u201cThis is the first time this asset has been in the Philippines, so it will give Philippine controllers the ability to train with American pilots and vice versa and shows that we can accomplish the mission together, as friends and allies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"674\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ghostrider-inside.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-51321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ghostrider-inside.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ghostrider-inside.jpg.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ghostrider-inside.jpg.jpg?resize=768,431 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Ghostrider-inside.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,575 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Airmen work aboard an AC-130J Ghostrider during close air support training at Exercise Balikatan. (Lance Cpl. Dalton Payne\/Marine Corps)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The close-air support live-fire training in a complex and realistic environment advanced the combined capabilities of the two nations and demonstrated the reach of U.S. SOF assets, according to the release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe airmen from the 320th STS and 710th SPOW have a great partnership and a strong friendship,\u201d said an unnamed 320th STS airman in the release. \u201cDuring Balikatan, we always start the exercise with some academic classes before progressing to controlling live air-to-ground engagements. \u201cBoth U.S. and Philippine JTACs work with U.S. and Philippine aircraft to enhance our interoperability. Together, we get better every Balikatan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the exercise, the Ghostrider also flew alongside Philippine fighter jets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis CAS integration between the FA-50PH [fighter] and the AC-130J is a pioneering training for our PAF fighter pilots,\u201d said Philippine air force Maj. Michael G. Rabina, commander of the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron, in the release. \u201cIt is a welcome opportunity for us to participate in such operations that offers a valuable training environment to enhance our capabilities. This exercise demonstrates the interoperability of the Fighting Eagle with the gunship and with our allies in a combined operations setting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Balikatan is an annual exercise between the U.S. and the Philippines and comes from a Tagalog phrase meaning \u201cshoulder-to-shoulder.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The deployment of the Ghostrider, assigned to the 73rd Special Operations Squadron out of Hurlburt Field, Florida, also marked the first time the updated J model of the AC-130 has landed in or operated in 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