The 60-year evolution of a flying artillery battery

Technology · Published 30 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Watch how the US Air Force transformed a cargo plane into a high-tech gunship. This video explores the lineage of the AC-130, its massive hardware upgrades, and a new role in maritime warfare.

The AC-130J Ghostrider maintains a 60-year tactical tradition: banking left to circle targets while raining fire from the sky. However, recent upgrades have modernized this 'contradiction with wings.' The aircraft now integrates a fighter's AN/APG-83 radar and can launch AGM-190A Havoc Spear cruise missiles off its rear cargo ramp.

A 43-pound shell is manually inserted into a Vietnam-era 105 millimetre howitzer that remains on the aircraft. During RIMPAC 2026, the Ghostrider demonstrated its ability to hunt ships at sea by firing into a decommissioned US Navy warship north of Kauai.

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