AC-130H Spectre, al Qaeda, Somalia

Aircraft attack al Qaeda haven, Air Force AC-130 gunships struck al Qaeda targets in Somalia Jan. 8, news sources reported last night.

Press reports said the AC-130 attacks hit an area called Ras Kamboni, a heavily forested area near the Kenyan border. The area is allegedly a terror training base. The AC-130 gunship's primary missions are close-air support, air interdiction and force protection. (U.S. Air Force photo) Download Full Image

The AC-130H Spectre gunship's primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. Other missions include perimeter and point defense, escort, High Resolution Image

landing, drop and extraction zone support, forward air control, limited command and control, and combat search and rescue. These heavily armed aircraft incorporate side-firing weapons integrated with sophisticated sensor, navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or area saturation during extended periods, at night and in adverse weather. The sensor suite consists of a low-light-level television sensor and an infrared sensor. Radar and electronic sensors also give the gunship a method of positively identifying friendly ground forces as well as effective ordnance delivery during adverse weather conditions. Navigational devices include an inertial navigation system and global positioning system.

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