--- title: "The Future Of The AC-130 Gunship: Evolve Or Die" description: "The [AC-130]() was one of the most heavily tasked aerial assets during the Global War on Terror. Its ability to loiter on station and deliver surgical, devastating fire on demand meant the AC-130 always had a role to play in…" date: "2024-08-31" modified: "2024-08-31" authors: - name: "Tyler Rogoway" job_title: "Editor-in-Chief" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway" url: "https://www.twz.com/air/evolve-or-die-the-future-of-the-ac-130-gunship" categories: - "AC-130" - "Air" - "Air Forces" - "Around The Globe" - "C-130" - "Indo-Pacific" - "News & Features" - "Transports" - "U.S. Air Force" - "Video" tags: - "Special Operations Forces Week 2025" --- # The Future Of The AC-130 Gunship: Evolve Or Die ![AC-130]() *USAF/Composite* The [AC-130]() was one of the most heavily tasked aerial assets during the Global War on Terror. Its ability to loiter on station and deliver surgical, devastating fire on demand meant the AC-130 always had a role to play in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere. But now, as the strategic focus moves away from counter-terror and counter-insurgency operations to potential peer-state conflicts, particularly one in the Pacific against China, where the enemy sits beneath a highly complex air defense umbrella far beyond the range of its guns, the AC-130 is at an existential crossroads. The AC-130 has to adapt to survive, both literally and budgetarily. The video above examines in detail what that could look like. *Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com* ## Author Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day. ### Author social links [Twitter]()