The United States’ definitive strategic pivot toward the Indo-Pacific is being reflected in the capabilities its Armed Forces plan to deploy in the coming years. One example of this shift is the U.S. Air Force (USAF) AC-130J Ghostrider gunships, which are undergoing various tests and evaluations to assess the feasibility of using them as launch platforms for different types of missiles with varying ranges. The most recent example involved an aircraft from the Air Force Special Operations Command, which conducted a load test with an AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile.
Designed as a platform for attack, air interdiction, armed reconnaissance, and close air support, the AC-130J Ghostrider is the heir to a long tradition of gunships that have served the U.S. Air Force since the Vietnam War era, when the first AC-130U/W models were introduced. However, the strategic shift toward the Pacific, with China as the main geopolitical rival, has led the U.S. to question the capabilities that this type of aircraft could provide in a high-intensity conflict fought across vast distances against the Asian giant.
This situation—mirroring trends seen in other major powers—has reportedly prompted ongoing plans to equip these aircraft with a new range of long-range cruise and anti-ship missiles, which are currently undergoing feasibility studies and evaluation.
This was demonstrated by the recent disclosure of testing conducted in November 2024, when an AC-130J launched the new Small Cruise Missile (SCM), also known as Black Arrow and developed by Leidos Dynetics, from its cargo bay.
However, these evaluations are not limited to weaponry for land targets. They could also extend to missiles designed to strike surface targets such as ships. This was revealed through statements from senior leaders of USAF Special Operations Command, who confirmed during the SOF Week conference that an AC-130J had conducted load testing with an AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile.
The statements were made by Major Andrew Monroe, commander of Detachment 1 of the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the unit responsible for development, testing, and evaluation involving AC-130J aircraft, as well as MC-130J Commando II transport and refueling aircraft and, more recently, the new OA-1K Skyraider II attack aircraft, which is currently being inducted into the USAF.
“Over the past year, our team conducted Precision Strike Package testing, Harpoon loading, and Small Cruise Missile integration and launch efforts from the AC-130J,” said Major Monroe, as quoted by the specialized outlet The War Zone.
Currently, although the AC-130J has demonstrated its versatility in attacking naval targets using its broad array of onboard cannons, it lacks dedicated weaponry such as the Harpoon missile. In the past, Lockheed Martin—the current manufacturer of the C-130J Super Hercules and its derivatives—undertook several technical and promotional efforts to offer this capability in maritime patrol variants, though they failed to gain traction among domestic and international operators.
However, beyond the load testing already performed, the integration and actual ability of the AC-130J to use such weaponry raise a number of questions, which were also addressed during the conference. One key issue was whether the aircraft could be equipped with new fire-control radars to provide the missile with the necessary targeting data. A possible solution under consideration is the installation and integration of Northrop Grumman’s AN/APG-83 AESA radar—the same radar system used on the latest F-16 Block 70/72 fighter jets, both in newly built and modernized versions.
Finally, the integration of the aforementioned Harpoon missiles may not be limited to the AC-130J, as F-16 fighter jets could also be equipped with this new capability, paving the way for an expanded mission profile should the worst-case scenario materialize: a high-intensity conflict between the United States and China.
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