Ammo

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Jeffery Craven, 4th Special Operations Squadron aerial gunner, loads a newly refurbished 105 millimeter target practice shell into an AC-130 Gunship on the flight line on Hurlburt Field Fla., Nov. 30, 2011. The ammunition loading process must be done quickly to conserve fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo)(Released)

Ammo

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Brian O?Donnell, 1st Special Operations Equipment Maintenance Squadron munitions system apprentice, places the charge of a 105 millimeter target practice round back into its shell on Hurlburt Field Fla., Nov. 29, 2011. Approximately 2900 105 millimeter target practice shells must have their corroded fuses swapped for the first time by O'Donnell and his fellow Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Gustavo Castillo)(Released)

First virtual ground and air simulator exercise

An U.S. Air Force 4th Special Operations Squadron AC-130U crew from Hurlburt Field, Fla., participates in the first joint virtual simulator training with the Marines from 29 Palms, Calif. and Marine Forces Special Operations Command. These two seperate locations trained in real time on convoy escort duty and actively engaged enemy targets from their home station in a mock foreign land. After 1.5 hours both the Airmen and Marines debrief and started a new exercise allowing both sides to perfect training techniques prior to deploying to fight the Global War on Terrorism. (USAF photo by Capt. Joseph Coslett)

First virtual ground and air simulator exercise

An U.S. Air Force 4th Special Operations Squadron AC-130U captain and navigator works with other crewmembers during convoy escort training. Other crew members from Hurlburt Field, Fla., participate in the first joint virtual simulator training with the Marines from 29 Palms, Calif. and Marine Forces Special Operations Command. These two seperate locations trained in real time on convoy escort duty and actively engaged enemy targets from their home station in a mock foreign land. After 1.5 hours both the Airmen and Marines debrief and started a new exercise allowing both sides to perfect training techniques prior to deploying to fight the Global War on Terrorism. (USAF photo by Capt. Joseph Coslett)

AC-130H Spectre

The AC-130H Spectre gunship's primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. Other missions include perimeter and point defense, escort, landing, drop and extraction zone support, forward air control, limited command and control, and combat search and rescue. These heavily armed aircraft incorporate side-firing weapons integrated with sophisticated sensor, navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or area saturation during extended periods, at night and in adverse weather. The sensor suite consists of a low-light-level television sensor and an infrared sensor. Radar and electronic sensors also give the gunship a method of positively identifying friendly ground forces as well as effective ordnance delivery during adverse weather conditions. Navigational devices include an inertial navigation system and global positioning system.

Robins C-130 team reaching accelerated goals

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The C-130 production branch at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., was asked by Air Force Special Operations Command officials to accelerate work on four aircraft and get them back to the warfighter. The four aircraft include one AC-130H gunship and three MC-130 Combat Talon IIs. (U.S. Air Force photo by Sue Sapp)