RAAF to use ' litening' targeting pod on a C130.

[bob10]

Not sure I believe them when they say the targeting function will be disabled. Seems to be a trend to push the disaster relief option over war fighting. Heaven forbid our miltary kill any one.

RAAF second user to attach Litening 'targeting' pod to C-130 - CONTACT magazine (https://www.contactairlandandsea.com/2020/01/31/raaf-second-user-to-attach-litening-targeting-pod-to-c-130/)

[PhilipA]

Now that is a good one Bob.
Now all we need is a couple of cannons and a few gatling cannons and we got us a convoy.
Regards PhilipA

[bob10]

What may not be evident is the fact the ADF is moving closer to a fifth generation Air Force. Combine that with the new destroyers and the new vehicles for the Army, they will be all connected, which means everyone will be on the same page. Commanders will be more aware of what's happening on the battlefield, as well as the soldiers on the ground. And they will be a combined team, more than any time in our history. Some one in the system is getting it right. For a change.


"The aircraft is the first of six Hercules to receive a high-speed satellite communications antenna, and is also receiving an augmented crew station in the cockpit to operate systems including the Litening pod.“A97-448 will allow us to explore how the Hercules and wider air mobility fleet will support operations as part of a fifth-generation Air Force,” Air Commodore Newman said.“For air mobility, that means the ability to gather and share greater amounts of information within a battlespace, enabling better decision-making for the crew, embarked forces and other supporting units.”"

[bob10]

Now that is a good one Bob.
Now all we need is a couple of cannons and a few gatling cannons and we got us a convoy.
Regards PhilipA

Too much TV, I think.

[PhilipA]

Bob look up YouTube deadly ac130 gunship in action firing all its cannons.
not tv , real.

regards PhilipA

[bob10]

Bob look up YouTube deadly ac130 gunship in action firing all its cannons.
not tv , real.

regards PhilipA

Sorry, I misunderstood you. I've seen " spooky" in action over the DMZ , Vietnam. [ from a VERY safe distance] Or Puff the magic dragon, as they called it. Spooky was the AC 47 fore runner to the AC 130 gunship. Here is its story. The ARVN nicknamed it ' Dragon ' , and you can see from the still of the tracers going down, why. Impressive, glad they were on our side.



YouTube (https://youtu.be/EuThvjefCTk)

[bob10]

Spooky evolved into the AC130 gunship. Which in itself is evolving. I don't think the RAAF is considering AC 130 gunships, more than likely in any future conflict we will have the US gunships in support. For the RAAF to develop AC 130 gunships would probably take too much out of the defence budget. Goodness knows the new submarines have already done that, but that's another story. My take on the RAAF AC130 'specials' would be for battlefield awareness, and similar.

the AC130 gunship.


YouTube (https://youtu.be/sGIruSCRLpc)

[VladTepes]

Something amazing has happened. bob10 has said something that makes sense.


What may not be evident is the fact the ADF is moving closer to a fifth generation Air Force. Combine that with the new destroyers and the new vehicles for the Army, they will be all connected, which means everyone will be on the same page. Commanders will be more aware of what's happening on the battlefield, as well as the soldiers on the ground. And they will be a combined team, more than any time in our history. Some one in the system is getting it right. For a change.


"The aircraft is the first of six Hercules to receive a high-speed satellite communications antenna, and is also receiving an augmented crew station in the cockpit to operate systems including the Litening pod.“A97-448 will allow us to explore how the Hercules and wider air mobility fleet will support operations as part of a fifth-generation Air Force,” Air Commodore Newman said.“For air mobility, that means the ability to gather and share greater amounts of information within a battlespace, enabling better decision-making for the crew, embarked forces and other supporting units.”"


The AC-130 gunship is nothing new, dating back to the Vietnam War era. They've seen service (that we know of) in Vietnam, Panama and the Middle East but it would be surprising if they hadn't popped up elsewhere on some more covert ops.

Armament has changed with numerous variations over time. (and the name eg Spectre, varying)


AC-130A Spectre Gunship
4× 7.62 mm GAU-2/A miniguns

4× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan 6-barreled gatling cannon

AC-130A Surprise Package, Pave Pronto, AC-130E Pave Spectre
2× 7.62 mm GAU-2/A miniguns
2× 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon
2× 40 mm (1.58 in) L/60 Bofors cannon

AC-130E Pave Aegis
2× 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon1× 40 mm (1.58 in) L/60 Bofors cannon
1× 105 mm (4.13 in) M102 howitzer

AC-130H Spectre

(Prior to circa 2000)


2× 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon
1× 40 mm (1.58 in) L/60 Bofors cannon
1× 105 mm (4.13 in) M102 howitzer


(post 2000-ish)


1× 40 mm (1.58 in) L/60 Bofors cannon
1× 105 mm (4.13 in) M102 howitzer

AC-130U Spooky II
1× General Dynamics 25 mm (0.984 in) GAU-12/U Equalizer 5-barreled gatling cannon
1× 40 mm (1.58 in) L/60 Bofors cannon
1× 105 mm (4.13 in) M102 howitzer



Whatever way you cut it - not something to be on the receiving end of.

[bob10]

Something amazing has happened. bob10 has said something that makes sense.





.

Situation normal. Vlad tepes opens mouth before engaging brain.

[VladTepes]

Situation normal. Vlad tepes opens mouth before engaging brain.

I have no idea how that applies to this thread BUT the irony is delicious and it's going straight to my signature line ! [bigrolf]