Air Force Screwing up C-130 Too

Manonthestreet

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May 20, 2014
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The U model, aka “Spooky,” is the classic gunship configuration with multiple cannon, including the 105 mm. The W model, aka “Stinger II,” was a special innovation for Afghanistan that had smart weapons — Griffin Missiles and Small Diameter Bombs — but no gun heavier than 30mm. The J-model Ghostrider was originally supposed to enter service looking a lot like the Stinger, with a 30mm gun, Griffins, and SDBs, but with enough spare power and room to maybe mount the 105 mm at some later point. Heithold decided Ghostrider “maybe later” wasn’t good enough.

The venerable 105 gun is in some ways more precise than smart weapons, Heithold said, because its shells contain much less explosive than even the Small Diameter Bomb. Because those shells are smaller than missiles or bombs, an airplane can also carry a lot more of them. And they’re a lot less expensive than smart weapons.

“An AC-130 is a precision strike platform in itself. It precisely delivers very low yield munitions with a 30 [mm gun] and a 105… and they’re very inexpensive to deliver,” Heithold said: about $400 for a 105 mm shell versus $125,000 for a relatively low-cost
The big gun isn’t the only upgrade the Ghostriders will need, however. They currently lack the full suite of defenses found on the older aircraft Ghostrider 8217 s Big Gun AC-130J Gets 105 ASAP Laser Later Breaking Defense - Defense industry news analysis and commentary
 
Yes..... switching to mostly smart munitions would skyrocket cost of ops
 
The fat asses in the Pentagon have no concept of cost. They rely on (idiots?) advisers who probably are in the pockets of lobbyists who sell the stuff. The only safeguard the taxpayers have is the congressional oversight or the media that pays attention to technical stuff like this. Unfortunately congressional oversight is often skewed and the media is in the pocket of mostly democrat administrations.
 
The fat asses in the Pentagon have no concept of cost. They rely on (idiots?) advisers who probably are in the pockets of lobbyists who sell the stuff. The only safeguard the taxpayers have is the congressional oversight or the media that pays attention to technical stuff like this. Unfortunately congressional oversight is often skewed and the media is in the pocket of mostly democrat administrations.
And MRE's sucked worse than C rations....
 
The fat asses in the Pentagon have no concept of cost. They rely on (idiots?) advisers who probably are in the pockets of lobbyists who sell the stuff. The only safeguard the taxpayers have is the congressional oversight or the media that pays attention to technical stuff like this. Unfortunately congressional oversight is often skewed and the media is in the pocket of mostly democrat administrations.
And MRE's sucked worse than C rations....
Try carrying half a dozen C-Ration meals on a trip in the boonies as well as all the rest of the gear and you will appreciate the technology that created MRE's.
 
The fat asses in the Pentagon have no concept of cost. They rely on (idiots?) advisers who probably are in the pockets of lobbyists who sell the stuff. The only safeguard the taxpayers have is the congressional oversight or the media that pays attention to technical stuff like this. Unfortunately congressional oversight is often skewed and the media is in the pocket of mostly democrat administrations.
And MRE's sucked worse than C rations....
Try carrying half a dozen C-Ration meals on a trip in the boonies as well as all the rest of the gear and you will appreciate the technology that created MRE's.
Used to carry that and the M-50 no problamo...
 
The fat asses in the Pentagon have no concept of cost. They rely on (idiots?) advisers who probably are in the pockets of lobbyists who sell the stuff. The only safeguard the taxpayers have is the congressional oversight or the media that pays attention to technical stuff like this. Unfortunately congressional oversight is often skewed and the media is in the pocket of mostly democrat administrations.
And MRE's sucked worse than C rations....
Try carrying half a dozen C-Ration meals on a trip in the boonies as well as all the rest of the gear and you will appreciate the technology that created MRE's.
Used to carry that and the M-50 no problamo...
The what?
 
The fat asses in the Pentagon have no concept of cost. They rely on (idiots?) advisers who probably are in the pockets of lobbyists who sell the stuff. The only safeguard the taxpayers have is the congressional oversight or the media that pays attention to technical stuff like this. Unfortunately congressional oversight is often skewed and the media is in the pocket of mostly democrat administrations.
And MRE's sucked worse than C rations....
Try carrying half a dozen C-Ration meals on a trip in the boonies as well as all the rest of the gear and you will appreciate the technology that created MRE's.
Used to carry that and the M-50 no problamo...
The what?
Sorry, typo, M-60 you know, machine gun...
 
I ate Crats, Krats and Box Lunches. When you pop out your CorKrats, I once saw a meat tin dated 1942. It was 1974. No one opened that tin. Our Box Lunches were a dream in comparison and I have a feeling that MREs are as well.
 
The U.S. Air Force’s newest AC-130J Ghostrider gunships will enter service later than expected because of plans to load extra weapons on the four-engine planes. But the Pentagon’s top weapons tester is even more worried that other nagging problems could hold up the aircraft.

In 2014, crews had trouble picking out targets because the two prototypes were shaking so much in the air, according to the latest annual report from the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation. The Air Force s New Gunships Shake Rattle and Roll War Is Boring Medium
 

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