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AFSOC to finally mount a laser weapon on an AC-130 gunship

dave8383

dave8383

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AFSOC to finally mount a laser weapon on an AC-130 gunship
Jared Keller22 hours ago

ac130-laser-1200.jpg

An Air Force Special Operations Command photo illustration of a laser-equipped AC-130J Ghostrider gunship in action
(U.S. Air Force photo)

After years of funding woes, Air Force Special Operations Command is on track to fire a high-powered laser weapon from an AC-130 gunship sometime in fiscal year 2022, officials said.

Speaking during the Virtual Special Operations Forces Industry Conference last week, Air Force Col. Melissa Johnson — program executive officer for fixed-wing programs at SOCOM — stated that the command is inching towards strapping a laser weapon aboard an AC-130J Ghostrider following a series of studies and ground tests.

“This is pretty exciting," Johnson said, according to National Defense magazine. "And if it is successful — and we are planning for success — then it will feed into our new requirements and potentially a new program down the road."

AFSOC officials have been working towards an airborne laser weapon for at least the last five years, with initial plans to rock a system aboard a Ghostrider some time in 2020 for an airborne demonstration.
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I can't think of any reason why adding an additional weapon to the AC-130 would hurt.
 
dave8383 said:
I can't think of any reason why adding an additional weapon to the AC-130 would hurt.
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Having worked on a prior airborne laser project I hope they don't oversell the concept as ready to field. Airborne Laser was originally sold as a 7 aircraft concept but because the technology was so new and so difficult the science experiment was obsolete before the first aircraft was complete. After some successful test firings at reduced ranges the aircraft was mothballed and is currently one of those parts picked over dead birds in the graveyard.

The ready to serve concept added a great deal of complexity and cost to what turned out to be a useful science project upon which to build for the future of laser weapons.
 
dave8383 said:
I hear you but I'm not getting that impression.
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It seems to be one of those concepts that saddles people asking for development money. Someone has to sell it as the latest answer to real world problems ready to package and ship to the latest conflict. Budget writers simply can't accept that leaps in technology need to be tested before production contracts are awarded. On the other hand, Airborne Laser became obsolete because of the rapid advances necessary to make it work so progress was indeed made.
 
avatar said:
It seems to be one of those concepts that saddles people asking for development money. Someone has to sell it as the latest answer to real world problems ready to package and ship to the latest conflict. Budget writers simply can't accept that leaps in technology need to be tested before production contracts are awarded. On the other hand, Airborne Laser became obsolete because of the rapid advances necessary to make it work so progress was indeed made.
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I have no doubt.
 
All of a sudden I thought of the 1980's movie 'Real Genius.'
 
You really have to love this statement in the link considering the time table given for the program.

"And then, of course, you have the end-all, be-all laser questions: 'Are you going to be able to focus a beam, with the appropriate amount of energy for the appropriate amount of time for an effect?'

This sounds like another science project.

Given that I'd really like to see them succeed. The technology is almost there.

For those who are interested, google Airborne Laser to get some open source information on how projects like this develop.
 
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From what I've read, the laser tech is about there with today's technology. What we don't have is a way to power it that doesn't require a small electric power plant. How big/heavy are the batteries that have to go in that AC130 to power it?
 
dave8383 said:
I can't think of any reason why adding an additional weapon to the AC-130 would hurt.
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They need to start deleting weapons. Especially weapons that aren't in service anymore. Swap the 40mm Bofors for a 30mm Bushmaster II (actually the Bushmaster III fitted with 50mm Supershot would be better) and the 105mm Howitzer for a breach loading 120mm mortar.

Or delete the heavy ordinance all together for Griffin missiles.
 
Questerr said:
They need to start deleting weapons. Especially weapons that aren't in service anymore. Swap the 40mm Bofors for a 30mm Bushmaster II (actually the Bushmaster III fitted with 50mm Supershot would be better) and the 105mm Howitzer for a breach loading 120mm mortar.

Or delete the heavy ordinance all together for Griffin missiles.
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Above my paygrade. All I know is I liked it when they were around.
 
avatar said:
Having worked on a prior airborne laser project I hope they don't oversell the concept as ready to field. Airborne Laser was originally sold as a 7 aircraft concept but because the technology was so new and so difficult the science experiment was obsolete before the first aircraft was complete. After some successful test firings at reduced ranges the aircraft was mothballed and is currently one of those parts picked over dead birds in the graveyard.

The ready to serve concept added a great deal of complexity and cost to what turned out to be a useful science project upon which to build for the future of laser weapons.
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Have you seen any of the new laser diodes? They are getting up there in ability. No jokes, they are you have to be extremely wary when working with them. Laser technology has come a long way and I can see it being put into vehicles and aircraft as a form of hard countermeasure and limited weapon.

 
PirateMk1 said:
Have you seen any of the new laser diodes? They are getting up there in ability. No jokes, they are you have to be extremely wary when working with them. Laser technology has come a long way and I can see it being put into vehicles and aircraft as a form of hard countermeasure and limited weapon.

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They have been for many years. DIRCM is well past the research phase that and Airborne Laser demonstrated the concept of weapons in planes. Size and complexity issues are still involved however. It's a long step from burning a hole in your shirt to exploding the fuel tank of a moving truck.
 
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avatar said:
They have been for many years. DIRCM is well past the research phase that and Airborne Laser demonstrated the concept of weapons in planes. Size and complexity issues are still involved however. It's a long step from burning a hole in your shirt to exploding the fuel tank of a moving truck.
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They are getting electric conversion efficiency of 30-50% and that video was for a handheld continuous laser that was made from a repurposed laser projector array. I bet purpose built arrays would be useful now for small drone and missile counter measures.
 
avatar said:
Having worked on a prior airborne laser project I hope they don't oversell the concept as ready to field. Airborne Laser was originally sold as a 7 aircraft concept but because the technology was so new and so difficult the science experiment was obsolete before the first aircraft was complete. After some successful test firings at reduced ranges the aircraft was mothballed and is currently one of those parts picked over dead birds in the graveyard.

The ready to serve concept added a great deal of complexity and cost to what turned out to be a useful science project upon which to build for the future of laser weapons.
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The real goal may be to keep the. C-130 alive.
 
PirateMk1 said:
They are getting electric conversion efficiency of 30-50% and that video was for a handheld continuous laser that was made from a repurposed laser projector array. I bet purpose built arrays would be useful now for small drone and missile counter measures.
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Counter measures are considerably more advanced and complex than that. I cannot comment on the state of the industry more than that.
 
avatar said:
Counter measures are considerably more advanced and complex than that. I cannot comment on the state of the industry more than that.
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:lol: I know. I build the reasons for counter measures.
 
TomFitz said:
The real goal may be to keep the. C-130 alive.
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There is no need to create a separate program to keep the C130 alive. The C130 is not going anywhere anytime soon. And for good reason.

Hell they have fairly recently just came out with a whole new model the C130J. Of which they are are still building them to fulfill the USAF order.
 
braindrain said:
There is no need to create a separate program to keep the C130 alive. The C130 is not going anywhere anytime soon. And for good reason.

Hell they have fairly recently just came out with a whole new model the C130J. Of which they are are still building them to fulfill the USAF order.
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In uncontested airspace those things are just plain evil.
 
braindrain said:
There is no need to create a separate program to keep the C130 alive. The C130 is not going anywhere anytime soon. And for good reason.

Hell they have fairly recently just came out with a whole new model the C130J. Of which they are are still building them to fulfill the USAF order.
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You just made my point.

The Air Force tried to kill the C-130 in the 1980s. Alas, it was built in Marietta, GA. Which happened to be Newt Gingrich's district.

The C-130J has been in production for 24 years.
 
TomFitz said:
You just made my point.

The Air Force tried to kill the C-130 in the 1980s. Alas, it was built in Marietta, GA. Which happened to be Newt Gingrich's district.

The C-130J has been in production for 24 years.
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Not sure how you think that makes your point.

The US AF still buying new C130s as well as investing millions of dollars in new variants is not a real good indication that they are trying to kill the C130.

And they were introduced in the AF in 99 which is relatively recent in terms of US airplanes in general and the C130 in particular.

Do you have some evidence the AF tried to get rid of their C130s.
 
TomFitz said:
You just made my point.

The Air Force tried to kill the C-130 in the 1980s. Alas, it was built in Marietta, GA. Which happened to be Newt Gingrich's district.

The C-130J has been in production for 24 years.
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The fact none of the proposed replacements have panned out might have something to do with it.
 
braindrain said:
Not sure how you think that makes your point.

The US AF still buying new C130s as well as investing millions of dollars in new variants is not a real good indication that they are trying to kill the C130.

And they were introduced in the AF in 99 which is relatively recent in terms of US airplanes in general and the C130 in particular.

Do you have some evidence the AF tried to get rid of their C130s.
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CONGRESS INSISTS AIR FORCE BUY UNWANTED C-130S - Sun Sentinel
 
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