The present AC-130H aircraft is a result of a series of modifications (and remodifications) to the basic C-130 aircraft.

The prototype AC-130A (#626), tested at Eglin AFB FL and in Southeast Asia (SEA) during 1967, was a basic C-130A with an analog fire control computer, gun sight, four 20mm Vulcan cannons, and four 7.62mm miniguns. Sensor and illumination equipment consisted of a night observation device (NOD), forward-looking infrared (FLIR), side-looking radar, 40 kilowatt illuminator, and a flare dispenser.

When tests were completed on the prototype, seven JC-130A aircraft were modified to gunships with the same equipment as the prototype. Four of these aircraft were in SEA by the end of 1968. The remaining three aircraft followed in early 1969. All of these aircraft were assigned to the 16 SOS, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand.

In November 1969, aircraft #490 (called Surprise Package) deployed to SEA. Surprise Package was a one-of-a-kind test bed with updated avionics and guns. The NOD was replaced by a low-light level television (LLLTV), and the operator was moved from the drafty environment of the crew entrance door to the booth. The two aft 20mm Vulcans were replaced by two 40mm Bofors which allowed the aircraft to be employed effectively from absolute altitudes of over 7500 feet. The analog computer was replaced by a digital computer and an inertial measurement system (IMS) which allowed target storage, auto tweak, and off-nominal shooting. A fourth sensor, the ASD-5 Black Crow (BC), was added to detect electromagnetic emissions (better known as trucks). An electronic warfare officer (EWO) was added to the crew to operate the BC, the side-looking radar, and operate the jammers and radar warning (RAW) equipment.

Because of the success of this aircraft, nine more C-130 aircraft were modified to gunships.

The last nine AC-130A aircraft were built to the Pave Pronto configuration. This configuration included the guns and sensors from Surprise Package, a new and better analog computer, the APN-59 navigation radar, the ARN-92 automatic LORAN, a modified IMS, and the addition of a fire control officer's station in the booth.

The original AC-130A gunships were upgraded to the Pave Pronto configuration as they went through the aircraft refurbishment facility in the United States. By the fall of 1971, all AC-130A aircraft were modified to Pave Pronto. This is the approximate configuration of the A model gunships assigned to the Air Force Reserve today.[Note: all are now retired 9/2002 FV]

Because of its gross weight limit of 124,200 lbs., not much more could be done with the A model airframe. The decision was made to build an E model gunship. With its gross weight of 155,000 lbs., the AC-130E could carry more equipment, more fuel, and more ammunition. The first AC-130E was delivered in the spring of 1971 and was deployed to SEA later that fall. Eight of these aircraft were built. The aircraft had a digital tactical computer system which interfaced the head-up display (HUD), the IMS, and the sensors. The computer positioned symbols on the HUD allowing the guns to be pointed at the target even if the aircraft were not on perfect geometry; i.e., bank angle, airspeed, and altitude. Sensor equipment consisted of an LLLTV with Gaited Laser Illuminator (GLINT) and laser target ranger/designator, an improved FLIR, beacon tracking radar, and BC. The aircraft carried two 20mm Vulcans, two 7.62 miniguns, and two 40mm Bofors, all fixed mounted to the airframe. By early 1972, the aft 40mm was replaced by a fixed-mounted 105mm Howitzer. Later in 1972, the 105mm fixed mount was replaced by a computer controlled hydraulically operated trainable mount. With this addition, the 105mm could be pointed at a target by maneuvering the aircraft within a 12 by 12 degree box centered on the nominal condition. By the end of 1973, the fixed 40mm mount was also replaced by a trainable mount.

Three more E model gunships were built for a total of eleven aircraft. On these last three aircraft, the T56-7 engines were replaced with the more powerful T56-15 engines. This was necessary for two-engine-out survivability. These aircraft were designated AC-130H models. As engines became available, the original E models were retrofitted with the -15 engines and were redesignated H models. This was the last gunship improvement until the fall of 1978 when in-flight refueling was added to the AC-130H. The only improvements since 1978 have been the addition of some updated electronic countermeasures gear, satellite communications, and a stand- alone inertial navigation system.

Twenty-nine C-130 gunships were built: Eighteen AC-130A models and eleven AC-130H models. Five A models and one E model were lost to hostile fire during the conflict in SEA. The remaining aircraft were returned to the United States in 1975. Two A models were immediately retired to the aircraft storage facility at Davis-Monthan AFB AZ.

The prototype (#626), always an AFSC asset, was retired and is on display in the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB OH. The remaining ten A model aircraft were assigned to the 711 SOS, AF Reserve, Duke Field FL, but are no longer in active service. The ten H model aircraft remain with the active forces assigned to the 16 SOS, Hurlburt Field FL. [Status edited by FV]

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