The AC-130 gunship is a heavily-armed ground attack airplane and is a variant of the C-130 Hercules transport plane.  Boeing manufactures and supports the AC-130U Gunship aircraft for the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command.  The aircraft represents a major advancement compared to other previous generation gunships.  

The AC-130 Gunship has a combat history dating to Vietnam.  The gunship had destroyed more than 10,000 trucks and was duly credited for its life-saving close air support force protection capability.  

The AC-130 aircrew earned the Lt. Gen. William H. Turner Award for suppressing enemy air defense systems and for its offensive role during Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada in 1983.  The AC-130 also served a primary role during Operation Just Cause in Panama in 1989 for destroying Panamian Defense Force Headquarters and numerous command and control facilities.  The aircrews earned the Mackay Trophy and the Turner Award.  The gunships were also used during operations Continue Hope and United Shield in Somalia.  And recently, AC-130s were employed during Operation Enduring Freedom.  The AC-130's distinctive feature is that it never has a base under its protection lost to the enemy.  

The AC-130U features include weapon stand-off range, improved first-shot accuracy and a state-of-the-art suite of electronic and infrared countermeasures that greatly enhance the AC-130U's efficient survival against modern threats.  The AC-130U incorporates technologies in the 1990s and is capable of attacking two targets simultaneously.  The AC-130U also incorporates features for enhanced maintainability and supportability.  

The AC-130U is produced at a cost of US$190 million.  Today, there are seventeen AC-130U aircraft in active duty service.