Lockheed Martin begins AC-130J gunship conversions

Lockheed Martin has begun work converting the first of 16 MC-130J Commando II special mission Hercules platforms into AC-130J gunships for the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), the company announced on 23 July.

The AC-130J will complement the incumbent AC-130H Spectre and AC-130U Spooky gunships, before eventually replacing the older model Spectres. The initial operating capability for the AC-130J is set at 2015.

As well as allowing for the retirement of the 1960s-era AC-130H, the AC-130J conversion will enable AFSOC to increase its overall gunship fleet from 25 to 33 platforms. In addition, an undisclosed number of MC-130W Combat Spear special mission-variant Hercules have received a modular gunship conversion package (in the gunship guise, the MC-130W is designated the Dragon Spear).

Conversion work is under way at Lockheed Martin's Marietta production facility in Georgia and will see the MC-130J fitted with a Precision Strike Package (PSP) to become the AC-130J.

A company spokesperson told IHS Jane's that the company is unable to release details of the PSP for the AC-130J, except to say that the initial contract will be to cross-deck the equipment that is already on the MC-130W.