Kirtland Air Force Base welcomes first of 6 tactical aircraft tied to new training unit

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Roughly six years in the making, it’s a major new addition for the Air Force in Albuquerque adding hundreds of airmen all tied to a new specialized training unit.

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The base recently welcomed its first AC-130J gunship aircraft which people can expect to see the plane in the skies for years to come. Arriving last week from Florida, Kirtland Air Force Base is showing off the first of six tactical aircraft coming to Albuquerque designed for training airmen.

“AC-130, the ‘A’ stands for attack and as you can see on it we have two weapons mounted on the left side, the 30 millimeter and the 105 millimeter. And then we have an assortment of precision guided munitions that we can attach to the wings on the aircraft as well,” said Lieutenant Colonel John Barringer, Commander of the 73rd Special Operations.

Previously used in combat the six AC130Js will soon be used to train airmen in Albuquerque, making for a major, new training hub at Kirtland Air Force Base.

“Our primary purpose is just precision strike. That’s what we’ll be training these students to accomplish,” said Barringer.

The unit said it’s expecting around 126 students a year to take part in the training camp across six-month stints. The six planes will also include operations, maintenance, and support personnel jobs making the entire new unit around 300 people. “I’m jumping out of my skin right now. We’ve been waiting for this day for just well over a year. You can see the team behind me, all just so excited to get this aircraft to Kirtland,” said Barringer.

The goal is for the program to continue in New Mexico for generations to come. “You’re going to have 18- and 19-year-olds coming through here. They’re going to be flying this plane and then ten years later, they’re going to come right back to be cadre and instruct the next generation of air commandos so it’s pretty awesome,” said Joshua Martin, Operations Officer for the 73rd Special Operations Squadron.

The first unit or the “shadow” is currently operating over Albuquerque’s skies twice a week. But at full strength, the base said people can expect to see the unit much more than that. All six AC-130J aircraft are expected to be flying in groups twice a day.

The remaining five aircraft and instructors are slated to arrive in Kirtland by spring for their first class of trainees.

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