Lockheed AC-130

[shree835]

AC-130H Spectre firing the 105mm sabot rounds...Do you guys think India should get couple of these ''Death from above'' things ??

 

[kbd-raaf]

No, don't be silly.

a)Too expensive.
b) Outside the IAF doctrine.
c) TOO EXPENSIVE
d) (a) and (c)

Even the USAF only operate ~40 of them, from memory.

Useless thread, mods should lock.

 

[shree835]

No, don't be silly.

a)Too expensive.
b) Outside the IAF doctrine.
c) TOO EXPENSIVE
d) (a) and (c)

Even the USAF only operate ~40 of them, from memory.

Useless thread, mods should lock.

I don agree.I Believe it will fit in nicely with IAF...A limited number would be fine.

 

[Abingdonboy]

These are not offered to ANY nation outside the US. So for India- NO WAY.



That said, this system presents pretty limited utility to the IAF.

 

[kbd-raaf]

I don agree.I Believe it will fit in nicely with IAF...A limited number would be fine.

Please educate me

Upon which front would a large, slow moving and expensive target be useful?

For an AC-130 to be useful for the IAF it has to be operated in an airspace in which they have complete air superiority in. Something which is not guaranteed for either front.

In war-time it'll end up becoming an expensive hangar queen.

 

[sancho]

First of all, most likely not available for exports. What is possible though is, to add some missiles or bombs on the wingstations if necessary. Also there is the question if the AC130 makes operational sense in our reagions, with little chance for air superiority and where it would be an easy target. Some 20 to 30 mm guns for our MRMR aircrafts would be the better idea I guess.

 

[shree835]

Chalo Sahi hai...Anyway this is not available for export I believe... Total American Maal.

 

[Nisha]

IAF should focus on night vision for their pilots. A repeat of Kargil would be bad with our pilots using over the counter hand held thermal sights as they flew!

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

I know a SSG operator who travelled in a US spooky .... and he was impressed by this baby..

 

[Koovie]

AC-130H Spectre firing the 105mm sabot rounds...Do you guys think India should get couple of these ''Death from above'' things ??

They have not offered this thing to their allies like the UK and you think that India can get them?

 

[Last Hope]

First, this isn't offered to India.
Second, there is a detailed thread on this. Please find that.

 

[confound thinker]

No, don't be silly.

a)Too expensive.
b) Outside the IAF doctrine.
c) TOO EXPENSIVE
d) (a) and (Even the USAF only operate ~40 of them, from memory.

Useless thread, mods should lock.

well that's surprizing.....are they not happy wid it?

 

[kbd-raaf]

well that's surprizing.....are they not happy wid it?

It's very useful for shock and awe but it's practical utility in a hot war is very little. The 40 or so they operate is more than enough for their requirements.

 

[Killswitch]

IMHO this platform would be best used against the Maoists. Pakistan and China have way too much AA defense to use something like this against them effectively.

 

[sancho]

It's very useful for shock and awe but it's practical utility in a hot war is very little. The 40 or so they operate is more than enough for their requirements.

As a CAS aircraft it is indeed very useful, especially when you think about it supporting not only ground troops, but also moving tank corps. Unlike the helicopters that supports them, such an aircraft has way more range and endurance to remain loitering over the tanks. However, they all would require air force cover and that would be the difficult part in our scenarios.