Air Force unleashes Ghostrider on Arkansas highway

The U.S. military is getting pretty good at landing big planes in what supposedly "non-traditional locations." In early August, Special Tactics Airmen from the 1st Special Operations Wing landed an AC-130J Ghostrider on a remote stretch of Highway-63 near Bono, Arkansas.

So why is the AC-130J landing in Arkansas so exciting? For one, it’s the first time it’s happened. According to the Air Force Special Operations Command, or AFSOC, the operation was part of the broader Emerald Warrior Field Training Exercise II, which is all about showcasing AFSOC’s capabilities when it comes to Agile Combat Employment , or ACE.

ACE is basically the mentality the Air Force is applying to its combat operations now as it prepares for a potential conflict with China in the Pacific. The idea is more or less: Don’t put everything in just a handful of locations, spread stuff out, and develop a hub/spoke pattern of supply lines.

If a kinetic war kicks-off in the Pacific — meaning one with bullets and bombs — bases and traditional runways will be prime targets. So, the Air Force is looking for every available stretch of road, highway, or hardened track long enough and straight enough to land an aircraft. Be it a drone , jet fighter , tank buster , air tanker or fifth-generation Air Force gunship.

The AC-130J Ghostrider is the latest variant of the Air Force’s close air support gunship. It’s armed with a 30mm auto-cannon and an improved 105mm Howitzer. Both of which were featured during the recent RIMPAC 2024 SINKEX . It was a demonstration of what AC-130s were able to do in Iraq and Afghanistan, which is quickly putting shots on target with precision without breaking the bank. Helpful for disabling a ship without destroying it.

But even in Iraq and Afghanistan, AC-130s usually only flew at night so they could limit exposure to enemy attack. In the wide-open battlespace of the Indo-Pacific, Ghostriders need to adapt to stay relevant. China knows where America’s runways in the region are, and China’s air defenses will be orders of magnitude better than the Taliban’s.

During an "Emerald Warrior" exercise, AFSOC simulated what crews would see in the Pacific. An advanced team landed support aircraft on a rural five-lane highway, secured the area, and set up a Forward Arming and Refueling Point. Once that FARP was operational, the Ghostrider could safely land, refuel, rearm and re-engage in the battle. All in a relatively short period of time.

The commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing said the exercise proved AFSOC is ready to meet the enemy anytime, any place, and without traditional runways. It’s also proof the Ghostrider could see some new, or at least expanded, roles in the Pacific .

Now that Ghostriders don’t need to return to a traditional base to re-up on fuel and ammo, they can spend more time on target and throw some of the other, longer-range munitions the Ghostrider can now carry downrange. Things like laser-guided bombs and smaller cruise missiles.

Giving the Ghostrider more places from which to operate makes the large plane that much more nimble, which is necessary in near-peer competition.

The post Air Force unleashes Ghostrider on Arkansas highway appeared first on Straight Arrow News .