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12. The Late 1990s: Repair, Upgrade, and a New Model
- Texas A&M University Press
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207 Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, the AC-130As and Hs had flown long, grueling hours in lethal combat environments . With the birth of AFSOC, those involved with the fixed-wing gunships believed now was the time to build a more modern version of the AC-130. As early as August 22, 1985, funding was in place for this new gunship. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Logistics James P. Wade sent a memo to Secretary of the Air Force Verne Orr approving the construction of a new gunship, thus officially launching the AC-130U production program. Most officials expected Lockheed Aircraft Service Company (LASC) of Ontario, California, at that point the AFSOC’s expert on the C-130 airframe, to receive the contract not to modify an old C-130 airframe but to build an AC-130 from the ground up.1 For many years Air Force and industry sustainment experts had been working on the AC-130A and AC-130H models to make them the most up-to-date gunships possible . In early 1972, the professionals at ASD had modified the E models with the addition of the M137A1 manually fed 105mm howitzer at position number six. This became standard equipment when the Es became Hs, and it would be included on the AC-130Us as well. All the AC-130Hs carried one hundred 105mm rounds and had three gunners to work the gun, which could fire six to ten thirty-four-pound high-explosive, armor-piercing incendiary shells per minute . As told in a previous chapter, late in 1972 the AC-130Es had their engines replaced with more powerful and efficient Allison T-56A-15 turboprop jet engines, a change so significant that the Air Force redesignated the E models as H models. Ironically, the AC-130Hs returned to action in the Vietnam War at Ubon RTAFB in March 1973 just in time for 12 The Late 1990s Repair, Upgrade, and a New Model 208 | CHAPTER 12 the US drawdown to enter its final phase. By the fall of 1975, all ten surviving AC-130As and all ten surviving AC-130Hs had returned to the United States, flying under the 711th SOS of the 919th SOG and the 16th SOS of the 1st SOW, respectively.2 In the late 1970s all special operations aircraft, including the AC-130Hs, MC-130s, EC-130s, and airborne command, control, and communications (ABCCC) aircraft, were modified with in-flight aerial refueling capabilities. To prove the worth of this modification, two AC-130Hs set a world record for C-130 airframes by flying nonstop from Hurlburt Field to Anderson AB, Guam, in 29.7 hours with four aerial refuelings.3 The AC-130As were not ignored. On July 19, 1982, Air Force officials issued Program Management Directive (PMD) L-Y2136 (1), T116218, directing personnel at the WR-ALC, which managed all DOD C-130 airframes, to replace all A-model Allison three-blade propellers with Hamilton-Standard four-blade propellers to extend the life expectancy of the aging AC-130A fleet. Ultimately, this project was completed by the WR-ALC at Robins AFB, Georgia, and by contract personnel at Hamilton-Standard’s main plant in Schenectady, New York. Over the ensuing two years, not only were the propellers replaced, but an enhanced joint information distribution system for jam-resistant voice communications and the AN/ARC-164 Have Quick secure ultra-high frequency (UHF) antijam communications system were also installed.4 In December 1986, LASC concluded a contract to install precision naviAC -130 on final approach. [34.228.43.90] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 13:25 GMT) LATE 1990S | 209 gation systems, dual redundant fire control computers, improved infrared targeting sensors, enhanced electronic warfare systems, and improved communications systems. It was a package that upgraded all the AC-130s in operation and extended their life for many years.5 Even so, the Air Force conceived an aircraft that would make a generational advance in fixed-wing gunships. On July 2, 1987, to the surprise of many senior Air Force leaders, the SECAF awarded a contract not to Lockheed, but instead to Rockwell International of El Segundo, California, to create a highly advanced AC-130H prototype. After some discussion, Rockwell experts decided to build this gunship version from the ground up and not modify an existing airframe. The result was the AC-130U. In May 1988, Rockwell concluded the preliminary design review, and they delivered the prototype AC-130U in October...