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AC-130
Photo: MSgt Christopher Boitz · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
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AC-130

Ground Attack / CAS Aircraft · United States · 1968
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AC-130

AC-130
AC-130 Photo: MSgt Christopher Boitz · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Ground-Attack Lethality
95
Payload
85
Loiter / Endurance
98
Survivability
80
Accuracy
90
Low-Altitude Capability
70
Avionics
85
Reliability
88
Versatility
75
Cost-Effectiveness
80
Origin United States
CategoryGround Attack / CAS Aircraft
EraCold War
In service1968
Operators3 countries
Quantity47
Data Quality87%
87
Ground Attack / CAS Aircraft MASS Rating
2/55
Cold War
2/251
All-Time
Ground Attack / CAS Aircraft · 10 axes scored
Ground-Attack Lethality
95
Payload
85
Loiter / Endurance
98
Survivability
80
Accuracy
90
Low-Altitude Capability
70
Avionics
85
Reliability
88
Versatility
75
Cost-Effectiveness
80
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the ground attack / cas aircraft category.
01 / Overview
AC-130
Production
1968–
Quantity
47
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
GROUND ATTACK / CAS AIRCRAFT · COLD WAR
2
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
88
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
87
ground attack / cas aircraft category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the ground attack / cas aircraft category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General5MOD.5
  • First Flight1967
  • Service Entry Year1968
  • Crew7
  • Primary RoleGround-attack aircraft and close air support gunship
  • In ServiceYes
◈Powerplant4MOD.4
▣Performance2MOD.2
  • Top Speed540 km/h
  • Service Ceiling9,400 m
◇Dimensions & Weights4MOD.4
  • Length29.76 m
  • Wingspan40.4 m
  • Height11.3 m
  • Max Takeoff Weight70,000 kg
◆Armament6MOD.6
⬢Production2MOD.2
  • Operators1
  • Variants6
▲Service History2MOD.2
  • Production Start1967
  • Operational StatusIn service
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
  1. 1945First deployment: Cold War
  2. 1968Production started
58
years in service
47
units produced
2
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 1 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
05 / Operators
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE6terms
Air-to-Ground Missiles are guided missiles fired from aircraft to attack ground targets. They enable aircraft to engage and destroy enemy ground positions, vehicles, and installations.
A collection of integrated electronic systems on a military aircraft designed to detect, identify, disrupt, or deceive enemy radar, communications, and guided weapons.
A helmet-mounted display system that allows pilots to aim weapons by looking at targets, tracking head movements to direct sensors or weapons.
Infrared Search and Track (IRST) is a passive sensor system that detects and tracks airborne targets by their heat signatures without emitting radiation.
Enables real-time sharing of position, targeting, and sensor data among aircraft and platforms for coordinated combat operations.
A targeting pod is an external sensor module mounted on aircraft that provides laser designation, infrared imaging, and range‑finding to support precision strike and reconnaissance.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the Ground Attack / CAS Aircraft entry →