Tag: gunships

Warning To Iran: AC-130W Gunship Practices Slaying Boats With U.S. Navy In The Persian Gulf

AC-130, Air, Air Forces, Around The Globe, C-130, Cyclone Class, Iran, Middle East, News & Features, Patrol Boats, Persian Gulf, Sea, Transports, U.S. Air Force,

A U.S. Air Force AC-130W Stinger II gunship recently conducted a first-of-its-kind training exercise in the Persian Gulf with U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes and Cyclone class patrol boats. These assets working together could provide a formidable means of defeating swarms of small boats, such as the ones that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps operates in significant numbers.

Our Analysis Of New Info And Video From The Raid That Killed ISIS Head Al Baghdadi

Americas, Around The Globe, Land, Middle East, News & Features, POTUS, Special Operations, Syria, Terrorism, U.S. Homeland,

The top U.S. commander in the Middle East has now briefed reporters on the U.S. special operations raid this past weekend that led to the death of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in an isolated compound near a village located close to the Turkish border in western Syria. The presentation also included video footage showing portions of the raid as it occurred and the subsequent destruction of the compound after the operation was complete.

China Reveals Exotic Flying Saucer-Shaped “Armed Helicopter” Concept (Updated)

Air, Around The Globe, China, Helicopters, Indo-Pacific, News & Features,

Images have emerged online of a what may be a mockup of an unusual-looking circular “armed helicopter” ahead of the opening of a major helicopter exposition in China. This is not the first flying saucer-esque design to have appeared over the years and the Chinese are likely to face many of the same hurdles that these earlier aircraft faced in making the concept viable, especially in any sort of actual combat environment.

The Afghan Air Force Just Can’t Quit The Hind Gunship Helicopter

Afghan Air Force, Afghanistan, Air, Air Forces, Around The Globe, Helicopters, Middle East, News & Features,

The Afghan Air Force’s fleet of four Mi-35 Hind helicopters is grounded and it’s not clear when they might fly again. As far as its American advisors are concerned, the service shouldn’t even have any of the imposing Russian-made gunships anymore and won’t offer any support to get them flying again, but the Afghans continue to resist the push to retire the type for good.

AC-130J Ghostrider Gunships Have Flown Their Very First Combat Missions

AC-130, Afghanistan, Air, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), Air Forces, Around The Globe, C-130, Middle East, News & Features, Special Operations Aviation, Transports, U.S. Air Force,

The U.S. Air Force’s new AC-130J Ghostriders have been flying combat missions in Afghanistan since June 2019. The gunships took over from AC-130U Spooky IIs that had been supporting U.S. and coalition special operations forces and their Afghan partners in that country. Those Spooky IIs have now returned to the United States, marking the last scheduled combat deployment ever for that version of the AC-130.

Russia Reportedly Developing Its Own AC-130-Like Gunship From Converted An-12 Cargo Planes

AC-130, Air, Aircraft gun systems, Around The Globe, C-130, Europe, News & Features, Russia, Transports,

Russia is reportedly looking to develop an AC-130-like gunship armed with a pair of 57mm automatic cannons, as well as additional smaller guns. The first phase of the project would involve the conversion of an Antonov An-12 Cub cargo plane into a flying testbed to experiment with different weapons and tactics, techniques and procedures.