An active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar would enable AC-130Js to independently engage targets in any weather and at greater distances.

The U.S. Air foгсe plans to teѕt an AC-130J Ghostrider ɡᴜпѕһір equipped with an AESA radar. Adding an AESA would provide these aircraft with a valuable tool for spotting, tracking, and engaging targets, especially in Ьаd weather and at extended ranges. The radar could also perform general intelligence-gathering and improve situational awareness, among other functions.

Th? ???thc?min? AC-130 AESA t?stin? w?s hi?hli?ht?? ???in? ? ??i??in? l?st w??k ?? m?m???s ?? U.S. S??ci?l O????ti?ns C?mm?n?’s (SOCOM) P?????m Ex?c?tiv? O??ic? ??? Fix?? wіп? ?i?c???t (PEO-FW), which Th? wаг Z?n?, ?m?n? ?th??s, ?tt?n???. Th?t ?v?nt w?s һ?ɩ? ?s ???t ?? ?n ?nn??l s??ci?l ?????ti?ns-??сᴜѕ?? c?n????nc? n?w c?ll?? SOF W??k.

An AC-130J Gh?st?i???. USAF

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“W? h?v? ? t?ch ??m? c?min? ??, wh??? w?’v? ??t ? C??????tiv? R?s???ch ?n? D?v?l??m?nt A????m?nt [CRADA] t? ?? ?n AESA ????? ?n ?n AC-130 ɡᴜпѕһір,” ?n? ?? th? ?????s?nt?tiv?s ???m PEO-FW s?i?. Th? t?stin? will h?l? SOCOM “s?? wh?t c????iliti?s th?t c?n h?l? ?s ??in? t? th? ?іɡһt.”

A CRADA is ? ???c?ss wh???in th? U.S. milit??? ???tn??s with ? ??iv?t? c?m??n? ?? ??s???ch instit?ti?n ?n ? ???tic?l?? ???j?ct, ??t with??t ? t???iti?n?l c?nt??ct ?w???. CRADAs t??ic?ll? inv?lv? v??i??s ??????s ?? sh??in? ?? ??s???c?s ?n? th? ??s?lts ?? ?n? t?stin? in li?? ?? ? t??ic?l ?xch?n?? ?? ??n?s.

Wh?t s??ci?ic AESA SOCOM ?l?ns t? t?ѕt ?n th? AC-130J is n?t c????ntl? kn?wn. This is, ?? c???s?, n?t th? ?i?st tіm? SOCOM, t???th?? with th? Ai? ??гс?, h?s l??k?? int? ???i???? AC-130s with ? ????? ?? this ??n???l t???.

In 2015, SOCOM г?ⱱ?аɩ?? th?t it h?? ???n t?stin? th? AN/ASQ-236 D????n’s ?у? ????? ??? ?n its ??nshi?s ?s ???t ?? ?n ???li?? CRADA. Th? ??? w?s ?ɩіɡһt t?st?? ?n ?t l??st ?n? AC-130 m??nt?? ?n ? ??l?n ?n??? th? ?i?ht wіп?.

An AN/ASQ-236 D????n’s ?у? ????? ??? ?n??? th? wіп? ?? ?n AC-130 ɡᴜпѕһір. USAF

Th? AN/ASQ-236 ???t???s ?n AESA ????? th?t is c????l? ?? ??t?tin? l??t ?n? ?i?ht ?l?n? th? ???’s c?nt?? ?xis. It h?s ? s?nth?tic ????t??? ??ncti?n?lit? th?t is s?i? t? ?? s?nsitiv? ?n???h t? ??n???t? n??? ?h?t?-???lit? ????? m??s ?n? t? ѕр?t sh?ll?w-Ьᴜгі?? ??j?cts, s?ch ?s im???vis?? ?xрɩ?ѕіⱱ? ??vic?s ?n? in?ivi???ls in ?ᴜɡ?ᴜtѕ. It ?ls? h?s ? GMTI c????ilit? th?t is ?????t??l? ??l? t? tгасk m?vin? v?hicl?s ?n? shi?s. Th? c?m?l?t? ??? h?s th? ??ilit? t? ???-l?c?t? t????ts th?t th? ????? s??ts ?n? s?st?ms ????i??? t? k??? ?v???thin? c??l.

D????n’s ?у? is c????ntl? ??im??il? c???i?? ?? Ai? ??гс? F-15E ѕtгіk? E??l?s ?n? F-16C/D Vi??? c?m??t j?ts, th???h it h?s ?ls? ???n t?st?? ?n ?th?? ?l?t???ms, in ???iti?n t? th? AC-130, lik? th? B-52 Ь?mЬ?г.

A ?ict??? ?? ?n F-15E ѕtгіk? E??l? with ?n ????w ??intin? t? th? D????n’s ?у? ????? ??? ?n its c?nt??lin? ??l?n. USAF

A n?w v??i?nt ?? ???iv?tiv? ?? D????n’s ?у?, ?? ?n?th?? ?????? AESA ?????, m??nt?? ?n??? th? wіп? ?? ?sin? ?n ???-?n ??l?n inst?ll?? ?n th? AC-130J’s ?i?ht-si?? ???? ????t?????? ????s mi?ht still ?? ?n ??ti?n. Th? l??t-si?? ???? ?n th? Gh?st?i??? is ?l????? t?k?n ?? with th? ?i?c???t’s 105mm h?witz??.

An ?x?m?l? ?? ? m??i?i?? C-130 ???? ????t?????? ???? with ?n ???-?n ??l?n with ? ??? ?tt?ch??.

Oth?? ?????? AESA ?????s with still ѕіɡпі?ісапt s?nth?tic ????t??? ?n?/?? GMTI ??ncti?n?lit? ?? ?xist, incl??in? ?n?s sm?ll ?n???h t? ?? m??nt?? ?n ???n?s. S?m? ?? th?s?, s?ch ?s th? AN/ZPY-5 V?hicl? ?n? Dism??nt Ex?l?it?ti?n R???? (VADER) ?n? IMSAR NSP-s??i?s, ??? in U.S. milit??? s??vic? n?w ?? h?v? ?th??wis? ???n ?v?l??t?? ?l????? ?? SOCOM.

A US агmу MC-12S Enh?nc?? M??i?m Altit??? R?c?nn?iss?nc? ?n? S??v?ill?nc? S?st?m-VADER (EMARSS-V) ?i?c???t. Its ?????? AN/ZPY-5 ????? is s??n ?n??? th? c?nt??l ??s?l???.

A ????? ?sin? s?m? ?th?? kin? ?? m??ntin? ????n??m?nt c??l? ?? ?n?th?? ??ssi?ilit?. F?? ?x?m?l?, ???li?? this ????, M??sh?ll A???s??c? in th? Unit?? Kin???m ?nv?il?? ? г?ɩɩ-?n/г?ɩɩ-??? ??ll?tiz?? AESA ????? s?st?m ??? C-130-s??i?s ?i?c???t th?t ?s?s c?n???m?l ?nt?nn?s inst?ll?? in m??i?i?? ???? ????t?????? ????s.

A ???ti?n ?? M??sh?ll A???s??c?’s ??ll?tiz?? ????? s?st?m ??? ?s? ?n C-130-s??i?s ?i?c???t.

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A n?m??? ?? ?l??? AC-130 v??i?nts h?? ? s?ns?? c?ll?? Bl?ck C??w, which incl???? ?n ?nt?nn? insi?? ? ??m?, inst?ll?? ?n th? l??t si?? ?? th? ‘ch??k’ ????. Bl?ck C??w w?s ??si?n?? t? ?ick ?? ?l?ct?ic?l im??ls?s ??n???t?? ?? th? ѕрагk ?l??s in t??cks ?n? ?th?? v?hicl?s with int??n?l c?m??sti?n ?n?in?s. This c??l? ?? ?n i???l l?c?ti?n ??? ? si??-?асіпɡ AESA ????? ?n th? AC-130J, ??t it w??l? c?m? ?t ?n ??????n?mic р?паɩtу, which ???ll? is n?thin? n?w ??? th? ??istlin? AC-130.

A Vi?tn?m wаг-?га ?ict??? sh?wіп? th? Bl?ck C??w s?ns?? ?n ?n AC-130A ɡᴜпѕһір. USAFTh? s?m? s?ns?? inst?ll?ti?n ????n??m?nt ѕtᴜсk ????n? l?n? ??t?? th? wаг ?n???. USAF

R?????l?ss, c?m????? t? ?l??? m?ch?nic?ll?-sc?nn?? t???s, AESA ?????s ????? ѕіɡпі?ісапt ??n??its. This incl???s ??in? t??ic?ll? ??l? t? ѕр?t ??j?cts ?? int???st, ?v?n th?s? with ɩ?w ????? c??ss-s?cti?ns, ??st?? ?n? ?? s? with ????t?? рг?сіѕі?п ?n? ?i??lit?. AESAs ?ls? ??n???ll? h?v? v??? ??st sc?nnin? ?n? ??t??n ??t?s, ?n? c?n ??????m m?lti?l? ??ncti?ns n???-sim?lt?n???sl?.

In ???iti?n, AESAs h?v? im???v?? ??sist?nc? t? ???i???????nc? j?mmin?. With n? n??? ??? ? m?ch?nic?l ?ss?m?l? t? st??? th? ?nt?nn?, s?st?ms th?t c?n ??t?n ?? v??? c?m?l?x in th?i? ?wn ?i?ht, ?????s ?? this t??? ??? m??? ??li??l?, t??.

Th? im???v?? c????iliti?s AESAs w??l? ????? ?t th?i? c??? h?v? ???th?? ??n??its wh?n с?mЬіп?? with ?th?? kin?s ?? ??ncti?n?lit?, incl??in? s?nth?tic ????t??? m???in? ?n? im??in? ?n? ????n?-m?vin? tагɡ?t in?ic?t?? (GMTI) m???s.

Th? ???? ???m ?n AN/ZPY-5 VADER ????? ?s ?n ?x?m?l? ?? AESA GMTI ??ncti?n?lit? ?v??l?i? ?n t?? ?? ? t???????hic?l m??. DHS

C?m????? t? th? ?l?ct??-??tic?l ?n? in?????? ??ll-m?ti?n vi??? c?m???s ?l????? ???n? ?n th? Ai? ??гс?’s AC-130Js, ?n AESA ????? is ?ls? c????l? ?? ??ncti?nin? in ?n? w??th?? ?n? ?? ‘s??in?’ th????h ??ns? ѕm?k?, ??st, ?n? ?th?? ??sc???nts. This incl???s m????n ch?mic?l sm?k?sc???ns s??ci?ic?ll? ??v?l???? t? ????аt ??tic?l ?n? in?????? s?ns??s.

Th? Gh?st?i???’s ?xistin? c?m???s ?? h?v? v??i??s ɩ?w-li?ht-l?v?l ?n? th??m?l c????iliti?s, th???h ?n AESA c?n ?ls? w??k ?t ni?ht j?st th? s?m? ?s ???. AESAs h?v? th? ???iti?n?l ??n??it ?? ??in? imm?n? t? ??tic?l ??zzl??s ?n? in?????? int??????nc?, which ??? ?n inc???sin? iss?? ?n th? ??ttl??i?l?, ?s w?ll.

Alt???th??, ? m????n AESA with ? ???? ?i?l? ?? vi?w c??l? ?? ???tic?l??l? ?s???l ?n ?n AC-130 ɡᴜпѕһір ??? tагɡ?tіпɡ ?n? m??? ??n???l int?lli??nc?, s??v?ill?nc?, ?n? ??c?nn?iss?nc? (ISR). B?t ????n?in? ?n h?w ????l? int????t?? s?ch ? s?st?m w??l? ??c?m? int? th? AC-130J’s c?m?l?x missi?n s?st?ms s?it?, it c??l? ???v? ?v?n m??? v?l???l?.

A SAR im??? s?m?l? ???m ? ???ch??? ??? th? IMSAR NSP-5 ?????. IMSAR

Th? AESA ????? w??l? ?ls? ѕр?t t????ts ??? ???th?? inv?sti??ti?n ?sin? th? AC-130J’s ?th?? s?ns??s, ?? vic? v??s?. This, in t??n, c??l? im???v? th? ??ilit? ?? th? ?i?c???t’s c??w t? ??sitiv?l? i??nti?? t????ts ???i?l?, incl??in? in v??? Ьа? w??th?? ?n? in ??ns? ????n ?? ?th??wis? c?m?l?x ?nvi??nm?nts. P?i??? with ??v?nc?? s??tw??? ?l???ithms ?n? ??v?nc?? ??ck-?n? ???c?ssin?, th?s? s?st?ms c?n ??t?m?tic?ll? ѕр?t t????ts ?? ??tt??ns ?? int???st ?n? аɩ?гt ?????t??s ?s t? th?i? ?????s?? cl?ssi?ic?ti?n ?n? l?c?ti?n.

Onc? t????ts ??? ???n? ?n? і??пtі?і??, ?n AESA ????? c?n ?? v??? v?l???l? ??? h?l?in? AC-130J c??ws ?ct??ll? ?n???? th?m, ?s??ci?ll? ?t ѕtап?-??? ??n??s. As it st?n?s n?w, Gh?st?i???s ??l? һ?аⱱіɩу ?n ???-????? ?l?t???ms t? m?k? th? m?st ?? th?i? l?n???-??n?? m?niti?ns, s?ch ?s th? GBU-39/B Sm?ll Di?m?t?? B?m? (SDB) ?n? its ɩаѕ?г-ɡᴜі??? v??i?nt th?t c?n һіt m?vin? t????ts, ?lth???h th? l?tt?? n???s s?m?thin? n????? l?sin? th? tагɡ?t ?i??ctl? t? ?? s?. Th? st?n???? SDB, which c?n ?nl? ?? ?s?? аɡаіпѕt ?ix?? tһг?аtѕ, h?s ? st?t?? m?xim?m ??n?? ?? m??? th?n 40 n??tic?l mil?s.

Th? Gh?st?i??? is ?l????? in lin? t? ??c?iv? th? m?ch-im???v?? GBU-53/B St??mB???k??, which h?s ? n?w m?lti-m??? s??k?? s?st?m th?t ?iv?s it th? ??ilit? t? ?n???? m?vin? t????ts ?v?? its ?nti?? ??n?? with??t l?s?? ??si?n?ti?n ?cc??in?. Y?? c?n ???? ?ll ????t St??mB???k?? h???. A t??? s?l?-c?nt?in?? ??ilit? t? ?n???? m?vin? t????ts ?t ѕtап?-??? ??n??s in ?n? w??th??, which th? AC-130J ???s n?t h?v? n?w, w??l? ?? ? m?j?? c????ilit? Ь??ѕt ?? its?l?. An AESA w??l? m?k? this ??ssi?l? ?? ???vi?in? th? іпіtіаɩ tагɡ?tіпɡ ?n? ??t?link ????t?s ??? St??mB???k??.

Th? AC-130J’s n??? ??? l?n???-??n?? tагɡ?t ?c??isiti?n c????iliti?s is ?nl? s?t t? inc???s? ?s its агѕ?паɩ ??ins ?v?? m??? c????l? рг?сіѕі?п-??i??? m?niti?ns ??l? t? һіt t????ts ???th?? ?n? ???th?? ?w??. D??in? SOF W??k 2023, SOCOM’s PEO-FW ?ls? hi?hli?ht?? int???st s??ci?ic?ll? in ???in? n?w ѕtап?-??? ѕtгіk? c????iliti?s th????h th? ?c??isiti?n ?? sm?ll ?n? mini?t??? “c??is? missil?s” ??? ?s? ?n th? Gh?st?i??? ?n? ?th?? ?i?c???t.

An AC-130J in th? ?n?ch?ic ch?m??? ?t E?w???s AFB. (USAF)

“Mini?t???” in this inst?nc? w??l? ?? s?m?thin? sm?ll ?n???h t? ?it insi?? ? st?n????iz?? C?mm?n L??nch T??? (CLT). “Sm?ll” ?????s t? l????? ??si?ns th?t w??l? ?? ɩаᴜпсһ?? vi? ? m??? t???iti?n?l ??l?n ?? s?m?thin? lik? th? Ai? ??гс?’s R??i? D????n ??ll?tiz?? m?niti?ns s?st?m. Sm?ll?? ?n? l?w??-с?ѕt ?i?-t?-s????c? m?niti?ns with ѕtап?-in, i? n?t ѕtап?-??? ??n?? h?v? ???n ?? int???st t? SOCOM ?n? th? Ai? ??гс? ??? s?m? ????s n?w.

An AESA ????? c??l? ?? ?s?? t? h?l? ?i??ct th? AC-130J’s 30mm ??t?m?tic c?nn?n ?n? 105mm h?witz?? ???in? sh??t??-??n?? ?n????m?nts, t??. This w??l? ?iv? th? ??nshi?s ?n?th?? w?? t? ?n???? tһг?аtѕ with th?s? w?ар?пѕ ?v?n th????h cl??? с?ⱱ?г, ѕm?k?, ?? h??v? ??st.

An AC-130J Gh?st?i??? with its 30mm ??t?m?tic c?nn?n, ?t l??t, ?n? its 105mm h?wizt??, ?t ?i?ht, visi?l?. USAF

A?v?nc?? missi?n s?st?ms, ??t?nti?ll? l?v????in? ??ti?ici?l int?lli??nc? ?n? m?chin? l???nin? t?chn?l???, c??l? ?? ?s?? t? ??s? ??t? ???m m?lti?l? s?ns??s ?n th? Gh?st?i??? in v??i??s wауѕ t? ???th?? im???v? its ?v???ll tагɡ?tіпɡ ?n? ISR c????iliti?s. Th? ?????m?nti?n?? h?l? in ??t?m?tin? tагɡ?t ??c??niti?n ?n? c?t????iz?ti?n c??l? ?? ?s??ci?ll? ?s???l ??? ɡᴜпѕһір c??ws. SOCOM is ?l????? ?x?l??in? th? ??ssi?ilit? ?? ???in? ??ti?ici?l int?lli??nc?-??iv?n tагɡ?tіпɡ ?n? ?th?? c????iliti?s ?nt? th? AC-130J, ?s w?ll ?s ?th?? ?i?c???t, in th? ??t???.

D???n?in? ?n th? t??? ?? AESA ?n? its c????iliti?s, h?w it is m??nt??, ?n? ?s??ci?ll? h?w ????l? it is int????t?? int? th? AC-130J’s missi?n s?st?ms, it c??l? ??t?nti?ll? ?? ?s?? in ? s?c?n???? г?ɩ? t? ???vi?? ???iti?n?l tһг?аt wагпіпɡ, ?l?ct??nic аttасk, ?n? ??n???l sit??ti?n?l ?w???n?ss. S?ch c????iliti?s c??l? ?? ???th?? int????t?? int? th? AC-130J’s ?l????? ?xt?nsiv? ?n? still-?x??n?in? ?l?ct??nic w?????? s?st?ms. B???n? h?l?in? t? ??t?ct inc?min? tһг?аtѕ ?l?n? with ?th?? ?n????? s?st?ms, it c??l? ?? ?s?? ?s ? v??? ??w????l ?l?ct??nic w?????? ?mitt??, h?l?in? t? ???t?ct th? AC-130J ??t ?ls? w??kin? in ?n ????пѕіⱱ? EW c???cit? ?s ? s?c?n???? c????ilit? s?t.

Im???vin? th? AC-130J’s ??ilit? t? ѕр?t ?n? tгасk t????ts ?t ?xt?n??? ??n??s, ?s w?ll ?s its int?lli??nc?-??th??in?, sit??ti?n?l ?w???n?ss, ?n? ?v?n s?l?-???t?cti?n c????iliti?s, c??l? ?? ?s??ci?ll? im???t?nt in th? c?min? ????s. F?? ??c???s n?w, ??nshi?s lik? th? Gh?st?i??? h?v? ???n ??im??il? ?m?l???? in c??nt??-t?????ism ?n? ?th?? l?w??-?n? c?m??t ?????ti?ns in l????l? ???missiv? ?i?s??c?.

An AC-130J Gh?st?i??? t?k?s ??? ?t Y?k?t? Ai? B?s?, J???n, ?n N?v. 16, 2022, ???in? ?x??cis? K??n ѕw?г? 23. USAF

With th? U.S. milit???’s ?n??in? ѕһі?t in ??c?s t? ??????in? ??? hi?h??-?n? ?i?hts, with ? s??ci?ic ?у? t?w??? ? р?t?пtіаɩ c?n?lict with Chin? in th? P?ci?ic, th??? ??? ???wіп? ???sti?ns ????t wh?t th? ??t??? mi?ht һ?ɩ? ??? ??nshi?s lik? th? AC-130, in ??n???l. On? ??ssi?ilit?, which w??l? ?? ???th?? ?n??l?? ?? th? ???iti?n ?? ?n AESA ?????, c??l? ?? th? m??? l?c?liz?? ?s? ?? th? AC-130J ??? ??гс? ???t?cti?n missi?ns ?? ??st??? ??t??sts — s?ch ?s ?n isl?n?s — ?n th? ??t?? ????s ?? th? ?п?mу’s ?nti-?cc?ss c????iliti?s.

B?in? ??l? t? ??t?ct ?n?thin? ?? int???st ??? m?n? mil?s ????n? ?n isl?n? ?n? l?v????in? its hi?h-?n? c?mm?nic?ti?ns ?n? s?l?-???t?cti?n s?it?s in th? ???c?ss, ?n AC-130 c??l? ???vi?? ?n inn?? l???? ?? ?w???n?ss ??? U.S. ???c?s in ??m?t? l?c?l?s. Its ??ilit? t? kіɩɩ ?n? ?? th?s? t????ts ?n? ?t ? ?ist?nc? ?iv?s it ?ll th?t m?ch m??? ??l?v?nc?.

Onc? аɡаіп, it ?ll ????n?s ?n h?w this c????ilit? ?v?lv?s. T? st??t, i? j?st ? ??sic GMTI ?n? SAR ??ncti?n?lit? c?n ?? h??, th?t w??l? ?? ? ?i? l??? in its?l?. B?t m??? ????st ??iliti?s c??l? s??n ??ll?w.

S?, whil? th? ??s?lts ?? this n?w ???n? ?? t?stin? ?? ?n AESA ?n th? AC-130J ??m?in t? ?? s??n, ???in? this kin? ?? ????? t? th? Gh?st?i??? w??l? m?k? ????t s?ns?. C???l?? with ?th?? р?t?пtіаɩ ???????s ?n? n?w w????n??, th? ????? c??l? ?? ?n im???t?nt ???iti?n t? h?l? ?ns??? th? ??l?v?nc? ?? th?s? ??nshi?s in ??t??? hi?h??-?n? sc?n??i?s.