AC-130U, time to upgrade?

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

HARVEST HAWK project to upgrade SPOOKY's with GBU-44 VIPER STRIKE and or other weapons making them a tank killer as well. HARVEST HAWK is a multi tiered program which will allow the CORPS and possibly AFSOCOM to operate a "light" support air gunships in support of their ops. SPOOKY's to see weapons upgrades by 2011 in coordination to improvements in standoff target acquisition and weapons firing as first posted to this thread and on going at this time (And now maybe we know part of the reason why now.). USMC "kits" for the KC-130J are and will be ready by 2011 as well.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...Tankers-05409/
Pics:


Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Also my last post here as well. Will put this and further posts in the "Jets and Planes... thread.

AC-130U TIME TO...
C1. CHANGE: USMC/AC-130U SPOOKY/UNIT 573/Name AC-130U SPOOKY to AC-130U+4 SPOOKY/End Date to DEC 2010 vice DEC 2020/
In the eyes of the USAF this was a failed attempt to remove the 25mm and 40mm and replace it with the 30mm. This conversion was only done on 4 of the 17 operational SPOOKYs. Part of the reason the conversion was due to the maintenance and ammo requirements of the 25mm and 40mm. The other, the 30mm was found to be inaccurate and thus "operationally unsuitable" The USMC has other thoughts about this (30mm) but you'll have to wait until my first Patch Post for 2012 to find out why.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita.../ac-130u-4.htm
Great overview of the issue at hand and at the bottom is the reason I started the thread in the first place.
http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/...-a-time-03023/
Detailed background on the project.
http://www.af.mil/information/factsh...et.asp?fsID=71

A1. ADD: USA/AC-130H SPECTRE/JAN 1998 - DEC 2020/
Use USA UNIT 564 for the base./
These never stopped flying and are in service (8) for the foreseeable future. This "new" unit is at least electronically comparable to the current AC-130U (TI/GSR etc.). However and if time allows before the deadline, the AC-130 will be advanced further electronically and in weaponry (VIPER STRIKE ATGW) as well with information I have. If not I'll present it for next year.
http://www.af.mil/information/factsh...heet.asp?id=71
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...ft/ac-130h.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...-130-specs.htm
Comparison between SPECTRE and SPOOKY. Note weapons and ammo info.
http://www.globalaircraft.org/planes/ac-130_spectre.pl As immediately above.
http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/...ack/ac130.html
Gets into the electronic issue in greater detail.
http://spectre-association.org/historySpectre.htm
A little history from the guys who flew them.

Regards,
Pat