The Perfect Soldier: Special Operations, Commandos, and the Future of Us Warfare by James F. Dunnigan |
Dirty Little Secrets
Marines Invent The Instant Gunship
The U.S. Marine Corps wants gunships, having noted the success of the U.S. Air Force AC-130 aircraft. But they can't afford them, as an AC-130 costs more than three times as much an a marine KC-130J aerial refueling aircraft. But the marines believe they have a solution. The KC-130J is the latest, and largest, USMC version of the C-130 transport used for aerial refueling. But the KC-130J can also carry cargo, and weapons (bombs and missiles) hung from the wings. Thus the proposal is to modify a KC-130J so that it can carry a targeting pod, with the data going to a special cargo container containing control equipment (computers, commo and displays) enabling operators use the day/night sensors of the targeting pod, and release smart bombs (like the 250 pound SDB) and missiles (like Maverick or Hellfire) hung from the wings. A 30mm Bushmaster cannon, mounted on a pallet, could also be loaded, with the rear ramp open, so that there would be gunfire support as well.
|
© 1998 - 2024 StrategyWorld.com. All rights Reserved. |