Special air delivery: air support for special operations forces (SOF) has so far relied largely on adapting fixed- and rotary-wing manned/unmanned aircraft that were originally developed for other uses. The growing importance of such operations is now producing some aviation assets aimed specifically at this application.

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Special air delivery: air support for special operations forces (SOF) has so far relied largely on adapting fixed- and rotary-wing manned/unmanned aircraft that were originally developed for other uses. The growing importance of such operations is now producing some aviation assets aimed specifically at this application.

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Following the attacks of 11 September 2001, America's Special Operations Command (Socom) was assigned the lead in the 'Global War on Terrorism'. Socom's procurement spend has subsequently expanded from a modest $ 788 million in FY01 to $1.53 billion in FY06, and is heading toward a peak of $1.83 billion in FY08.

Much of this budget is being spent on SOF-specific modifications to off-the-shelf aircraft. However, Socom now has funding to plan new assets dedicated to its special needs. Projects under consideration include more survivable gunships, light strike aircraft for Coin (Counterinsurgency) operations, tankers to support covert low-level helicopter missions, and lightweight air-to-ground guided weapons to be carried by small drones.

Gunships

The current US Air Force Special Operations Command (Afsoc) gunship inventory consists of eight old Lockheed Martin AC-130H 'Spectres' and 17 newer AC-130U 'Spookies'. The AC-130H is armed with a side-firing 40 mm Bofors gun and 105 mm howitzer, while the AC-130U adds a 25 mm General Dynamics GAU-12/U Gatling. From 2008, the AC-130U is to be equipped with two 30 mm ATK-built Mk 44 Bushmaster II chain guns, replacing the 25 mm and 40 mm weapons. The Mk 44 fires at 200 rd/min and offers a variety of ammunition types, including an airburst round under development for the US Marine Corps.

Beginning in 2009, AC-130Us are to be given new centre-section wing boxes, facilities to improve collaboration with drones and the Lockheed Martin GMS2 multispectral target designation system. Two other near-term upgrades planned for the AC-130 (and the MC-130H tanker/t...

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