Lockheed AC-130W Spectre #2

The 16th Special Operations Squadron (16SOS) is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing (27SOW) at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. It operates AC-130W... more

by Arthur Eggers

Title

Lockheed AC-130W Spectre #2

Artist

Arthur Eggers

Medium

Digital Art - Color Print

Description

The 16th Special Operations Squadron (16SOS) is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing (27SOW) at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. It operates AC-130W Spectre aircraft in support of special operations. The mission of the 27SOW includes infiltration, exfiltration and resupply of special operations forces; air refueling of special operations rotary wing and tiltrotor aircraft; and precision fire support. These capabilities support a variety of special operations missions including direct action, unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, personnel recovery, psychological operations and information operations.The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. Capable of takeoffs and landings from unprepared runways, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport aircraft. The versatile airframe has found uses in a variety of other roles, including as a gunship, for airborne assault, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refueling, maritime patrol and aerial firefighting. It is the main tactical airlifter for many military forces worldwide. Over 40 models and variants of the Hercules serve with more than 50 nations. The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport fixed-wing aircraft. It carries a wide array of anti-ground oriented weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and fire-control systems. Unlike other military fixed-wing aircraft, the AC-130 relies on visual targeting. Because its large profile and low operating altitudes (around 7,000ft) make it an easy target, it usually flies close air support missions at night. On 15 November 2015, two days after the attacks in Paris by ISIL, AC-130s and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft destroyed a convoy of over 100 ISIL-operated oil tanker trucks in Syria. The attacks were part of an intensification of the U.S.-led Military intervention against ISIL called Operation Tidal Wave II.

Uploaded

October 19th, 2016