Data Quality87%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the ground attack / cas aircraft category.
01 / Overview
AC-130
Category
Country
Production
1968–
Quantity
47
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
GROUND ATTACK / CAS AIRCRAFT · COLD WAR
2
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
88
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ 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
- Number of Engines4
- AfterburnerNo
- SupercruiseNo
- Thrust VectoringNo
▣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
- Internal Gun105mm cannon, 40mm Bofors, 20mm rotary autocannons
- Internal Weapons BayNo
- Air-to-Air MissilesNo
- Air-to-Ground MissilesYes
- Anti-Ship MissilesNo
- Nuclear CapableNo
▤Avionics & Stealth6MOD.6
⬢Production2MOD.2
- Operators1
- Variants6
▲Service History2MOD.2
- Production Start1967
- Operational StatusIn service
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1945First deployment: Cold War
- 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
AC-130 · CONFLICTS SERVED IN20% win
Total Conflicts
5
Victories
1
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
2011Operation Unified Protector—→20112011 military intervention in Libya—→2001–2014Operation Enduring Freedom—→1993–1995United Nations Operation in Somalia II—→1955–1975Vietnam WarDecisive victory→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
06 / MASS Score
GROUND ATTACK / CAS AIRCRAFT RANKING Ground Attack / CAS Aircraft · Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
2GROUND ATTACK / CAS AIRCRAFT2COLD WAR · GROUND ATTACK / CAS AIRCRAFT84UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS44PERFORMANCE/PRICE · GROUND ATTACK / CAS AIRCRAFT
ⓘ Rankings are within theGround Attack / CAS Aircraftcategory.
📖 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