For more than 40 years, American ground forces have relied on the AC-130 gunship for protection and close air support. However, the venerable AC-130H Specter variant, which has been deployed in every major combat operation since Vietnam, is beginning to show its age.
As such, the US Air Force’s 16th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron has recently announced that it will be retiring the Specters from combat this year in favour of the newer AC-130U Spooky’s and AC-130J Ghost Riders. Ride along with the flight crew of an AC-130H on one of its final operations in Afghanistan in the video above.