Special operations units from the U.S. and Norwegian Armed Forces conducted joint training in the Middle East alongside an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship. The field exercises served to verify the standardization of techniques and procedures for close air support missions.
According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), U.S. and Norwegian special operations troops, who are part of the multinational mission to combat the Islamic State, carried out exercises involving live-fire coordination with a U.S. Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider gunship.
“…The close air support live-fire training exercise focused on procedures to ensure interoperability between Coalition ground forces and air assets in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility…,” CENTCOM stated in a brief post on its X account.
These U.S. and Norwegian special operations elements are part of the Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, a multinational effort that “…advises, assists, and enables partner forces until they can independently defeat Daesh in designated areas of Iraq and Syria, in order to set conditions for long-term security cooperation frameworks…”.
Operating in a permissive theater, aircraft like the AC-130J Ghostrider are of great value to allied and local special operations and light infantry units operating in Syria and Iraq. The close air support capability provided by the U.S. Air Force through this platform often makes a decisive difference on the ground, particularly due to its precision and volume of fire.
One of the strengths of the AC-130J Ghostrider is its long endurance, along with its Precision Strike package. This includes all the systems that make up its offensive capability: from a mission management console and communications suite, to two electro-optical/infrared sensors, advanced fire control equipment, the ability to launch precision-guided munitions, and its 30mm and 105mm cannons.
This latest version of the legendary AC-130 also incorporates stand-off attack capabilities, able to deploy GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, GBU-69 Small Glide Munitions, as well as AGM-114 Hellfire and AGM-176 Griffin missiles. “…The AC-130J provides ground forces with a persistent, expeditionary direct-fire platform ideally suited for urban operations and delivers low-collateral precision munitions against ground targets…,” the U.S. Air Force states.
Cover image: CENTCOM
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