Flight testing of the high-energy laser directed energy weapon on the U.S. Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider gunship has been delayed once again, now scheduled to begin in January 2024. The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has confirmed that the testing will conclude in June of that year. Originally, the goal was to conduct the tests in the 2022 Fiscal Year, with a more recent hope for completion by the end of this year. Lockheed Martin has been contracted since 2019 to build and integrate the laser onto the AC-130J, but the exact reason for the delay is unclear. The integration of the laser onto the aircraft has proved to be more complex than anticipated, and there may be additional testing required due to modifications needed to bring the aircraft up to the latest standard. Additionally, there have been discussions about removing the Ghostrider’s 105mm howitzers to make way for the laser, but this has been deemed infeasible due to air turbulence that would disrupt the laser’s beam. The future of the project and the possibility of a laser directed energy weapon capability for AFSOC remain uncertain.
AC-130 Laser Weapon Test Setback Sparks Uncertainty Surrounding Its Future
