During Vietnam War, AC-130 gunships was used to destroy enemy supply lines. Hercules gunships used longer-range precision guided guns like GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (hellfire anti-tank ballistic missiles) and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs. A pilot program was launched by the US Air Force to install a high-energy laser onto the AC-130J gunship. Laser weapon systems will enable the gunship's ability to injure and damage equipment over long distances.
Lockheed Martin is being asked by the Air Force Special Operations Command, to design a new weapon system for its AC-130J-class gunships. The Airborne High Energy Laser is a 60-kilowatt, laser weapon that can vaporize a target from a long range. The laser can be used to demolish various targets on the ground and in the air. This weapon can also be used in detonating enemy ammunition dumps. Lockheed Martin is planning to test AHEL using AC-130J gunships in the next few decades. The weapon will eventually be installed on the AC-130J. The aircraft will also be able operate in clandestine missions.
Air Force Special Operations Command is considering a laser weapons for many years. The AC-130J Ghostrider's laser weapon system will enable it to target enemies from far away and leave no trace. Without the need for optics, the laser can be used to pinpoint targets up to miles away. The laser can be mounted on to the aircraft's underneath. This will enable the aircraft to carry out covert attacks, which could be used in the future.
The Air Force plans on mounting the laser weapon on AC-130J Ghostrider gunships within the next few years. The Air Force already has the initial design completed, and the contractor works on the implementation and testing. The next stage of testing will include ground and air testing as well as the installation of weapon on the AC-130J. The Air Force stated that the system will be available for testing in the fiscal year 2022.
The US Air Force will continue its testing of the AC-130J aircraft's laser system, and the contractor intends to start integrating a weapon system onto the AC-130J the following year. AC-130J aircraft's weight could limit its operating range. However, the AHEL can be used to prevent air defense from preventing the gunship from reaching its target. The weapon will also allow the Ghostrider to fire precision-guided munitions, such as Hellfire missiles, GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, and AGM-176 Griffin anti-tank missiles.
The laser must be fully integrated into the aircraft's beam control systems in order to move on to the next stage of the AHEL project. The Air Force hopes to start flight testing of the system on the AC-130J Ghostrider in 2022. The contractor has not yet stated when testing will commence, but the contract stipulates that the system must be tested before the end fiscal year 2023.