Col. William P. West, the 27th Special Operations Group commander, touts the (A)MC-130W as a developmental aircraft, bridging the gap between the H-model gunships developed during the Vietnam War and still in use, and the next-generation gunship, the AC-130J or J-Models now being developed and procured. West also said that the name “Combat Dragon Spear” might give way to a more gunship-oriented name, the “Stinger II,” if the USAF approves a requested name change. The W-models come to the war with new characteristics for gunships, including larger and higher-resolution sensors, precision munitions, and the ability to fly the gunship at higher altitudes.

The squadron commander of the W-models, Lt. Col. Donny Purdy, explained his squadron’s activities as multifaceted support to the current war effort and to future combat development efforts. “We have MC-130Ws flying combat every day and using the current weapons, our SOPGM [Special Operations Precision Guided Munition] and the 30 mm gun. The sensors and SOPGM [give] us the ability to fire on targets with a significant off-set. The aircraft is significantly lighter than the older gunships and can therefore fly higher.” Added to the weapons capability is that of the sensors. Sporting two larger EO/IR (electro-optical/infrared) sensors, the W-model gunship has greater resolution and can observe and spot targets farther away, enhancing gunship survivability and capability.

At the same time, aircraft at home are conducting crew training and currency, but also are developing the weapons suite that will be installed on the 16 J-model aircraft being procured to re-capitalize the Vietnam-era H-model gunships. That weapons suite will include precision weapons and the 30 mm of the Ws, but will also have a howitzer-style weapon. The testing being done now will accelerate and reduce the risk in development of the J-model weapon system.

Purdy said also that current W-model operations have allowed daytime gunship operations, which denies the enemy a safe haven time of day from gunships. The off-sets allowed by higher altitudes, higher-resolution sensors, and by longer-range weapons provide the added capability. He said his aircraft are well defended by altitude, placement over the battlefield, and on-board defenses.

Daytime ops enable new gunship missions. The MC-130W often provides support for troops on the ground as they perform village engagements as part of the population-centric COIN strategy in Afghanistan. “We’re part of the team when SF soldiers perform village engagements. We don’t think of the mission as ‘armed overwatch,’ which many still call it, but as being an integrated part of the mission, and enabling improved counterinsurgency. We’re ready to protect the SF soldiers and we can provide a deterrent to anyone who might want to pick a fight.”

 

Looking Forward: Future Posture Adjustment

Brig. Gen. Mike Kingsley, the current director of operations for AFSOC, added that the command is also preparing for the post-war stateside training posture of AFSOC units. AFSOC has expanded its homegrown exercise program called Emerald Warrior into a national-level training event, last year attracting hundreds of aircraft and dozens of units. “This exercise takes place every March, and last year included such things as Joint Tactical Air Controller training in Florida with Marine AV-8s [Harriers] and counter-IED training with convoy escort by gunships on the expanded Melrose Range conducted by the AFSOC people at Cannon.”

Near the end of 2011, Fiel announced plans to posture more of the command’s airplanes and people at forward bases on a more permanent basis as combat deployments reduce their requirements. His plan is to increase the numbers of aircraft at the overseas groups to 12 MC-130Js and 10 CV-22s at each. This represents a 40 percent increase in numbers, but approximately a doubling of mission-ready aircraft available to overseas combatant commanders. Fiel explained that when missions like Odyssey Dawn arise, augmentation of the overseas assets is almost always needed prior to mission start, but with the new posture, such augmentation will be the exception. Missions can begin and, if they still need augmentation, waiting for it will not be a show-stopper. Further, depending on the recapitalization of the gunships, it also might be possible to have a squadron of AC-130Js at each of the four AFSOC locations – New Mexico, Florida, Europe, and the Pacific. He feels this basing plan will best prepare AFSOC for whatever might be next in the command’s operational future.

The growth path that AFSOC has been on for the past few years is now paying off with greater airplane support for special operations missions around the world. AFSOC’s leaders are determined to push the aircraft to forward locations with a lean-forward attitude in performing the assigned tasks while maintaining readiness for whatever the nation might need them to do.

This article was first published in The Year in Special Operations: 2012-2013 Edition.