Editing Lockheed MC-130 (section)

==MC-130W Combat Spear==
[[File:MC-130W Combat Spear taxis at Hurlburt Field (070718-F-6751S-001).jpg|thumb|MC-130W Combat Spear, AF Ser. No. 87-9286, at [[Hurlburt Field]], Florida]]
[[File:73rd Special Operations Squadron.png|thumb|left|{{center|'''73rd Special Operations Squadron'''}}]]

The MC-130W Combat Spear, unofficially and facetiously nicknamed the "Combat Wombat", performed clandestine or low visibility missions into denied areas to provide aerial refueling to SOF helicopters or to air drop small SOF teams and supply bundles.<ref>{{cite journal |date=May 2008| title = Gallery of USAF Weapons|journal = Air Force Magazine|publisher= Air Force Association|pages= 145–146}}.</ref>

The first of 12 MC-130Ws, AF Ser. No. 87-9286, was presented to Air Force Special Operations Command on 28 June 2006.<ref name="stinger2">{{cite web| url =https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104485/ac-130w-stinger-ii/| title =Fact sheet AC-130W Stinger II| publisher =Air Force Link| access-date =6 April 2016| url-status =live| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193448/http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104485/ac-130w-stinger-ii.aspx| archive-date =3 March 2016}} The MC-130Ws were 87–9286 and 9288, 88–1301 through 1308, 88–1051 and 1057.</ref> The aircraft was developed to supplement the MC-130 Combat Talon and Combat Shadow forces as an interim measure after several training accidents and contingency losses in supporting the [[Global War on Terrorism]].<ref>{{cite journal | last = Hebert| first = Adam|date=March 2007| title = Tough Test For Secret Warriors|journal = Air Force Magazine|publisher= Air Force Association|page= 38}}.</ref> The program modified [[C-130 Hercules#C-130H model|C-130H-2]] airframes from the 1987–1990 production run, acquired from airlift units in the [[Air Force Reserve Command]] and [[Air National Guard]]. Use of the H-2 airframe allowed installation of SOF systems already configured for Combat Talons without expensive and time-consuming development that would be required of new production C-130J aircraft, reducing the flyaway cost of the Spear to $60&nbsp;million per aircraft. The Combat Spears, however, do not have a Terrain Following/Terrain Avoidance capability.<ref name="CombatShadowII"/>

A standard system of special forces avionics equips the MC-130W: a fully integrated [[Global Positioning System]] and [[Inertial Navigation System]], an AN/APN-241 Low Power Color weather/navigation radar; interior and exterior NVG-compatible lighting; advanced threat detection and automated countermeasures, including active infrared countermeasures as well as chaff and flares; upgraded communication suites, including dual satellite communications using data burst transmission to make trackback difficult; aerial refueling capability; and the ability to act as an aerial tanker for helicopters and [[CV-22 Osprey]] aircraft using Mk 32B-902E refueling pods.<ref name="wombat">{{cite web| url = http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/141M-to-Train-MC-130P-Combat-Spear-Aircrew-05004/| title = $14.1M to Train MC-130P Combat Spear Aircrew| work = Defense Industry Daily| access-date = 8 March 2009| archive-date = 10 April 2023| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230410012336/https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/141M-to-Train-MC-130W-Combat-Spear-Aircrew-05004/| url-status = live}}</ref>

The MC-130Ws were assigned to the [[73rd Special Operations Squadron]] at [[Cannon Air Force Base]], [[New Mexico]], with all twelve operational by 2010.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Schanz| first = Marc|date=March 2008| title = Special Operators Head West|journal = Air Force Magazine|publisher= Air Force Association|page= 32}}.</ref> Initially nicknamed the "Whiskey" (NATO phonetic for the "W" modifier), the MC-130W was officially dubbed the Combat Spear in May 2007 to honor the historical legacy of the Combat Talons in Vietnam.<ref name="cs">{{cite web | url = http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/05/airforce_mc130w_combatspear_070515/| title = MC-130P takes historical name| work = Air Force Times| access-date = 8 March 2009}}</ref>

===MC-130W Dragon Spear===
Operational demands on aging [[Lockheed AC-130|AC-130s]] led the Air Force to seek a replacement until new AC-130Js could enter the fleet. A first idea—acquire and develop an [[Alenia AC-27J|AC-27J Stinger II]]—fell through, so in May 2009, the Air Force began looking at converting MC-130Ws into interim gunships.<ref name="C-130 Gap">LaGrone, Sam. [http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/05/airforce_afsoc_gunships_051409/ "AFSOC fills gunship gap with C-130s"]. ''Air Force Times'', 14 May 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2009.</ref> On 17 November 2009, a contract was awarded to [[Alliant Techsystems]] to produce 30&nbsp;mm ammunition for the Dragon Spear.<ref>[http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2662197/ "ATK Wins $20 Million Ammunition Contract"]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Trading Markets.com. Retrieved 4 December 2009.</ref>

In September 2010, the Air Force awarded a $61&nbsp;million contract to [[L-3 Communications]] to give a gunship-like attack capability to eight MC-130W Combat Spear special-mission aircraft. Under the deal, L-3 added the weapons kits, called "precision strike packages". MC-130Ws fitted with the weapons were renamed ''Dragon Spears''. Air Force Special Operations Command eventually converted all 12 MC-130W aircraft to Dragon Spears.

The Dragon Spears were equipped with a [[Bushmaster II]] GAU-23/A 30mm gun (an improved version of the MK44 MOD0 30mm gun), sensors, communications systems,<ref>{{cite web|title=Socom Refines AC-130J Gunship Plans|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/awst/2010/03/22/AW_03_22_2010_p30-213277.xml&headline=Socom%20Refines%20AC-130J%20Gunship%20Plans|work=Aviation Week}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and the Gunslinger [[precision-guided munition]]s system: a launch tube designed to fire up to 10 [[GBU-44/B Viper Strike]] or [[AGM-176 Griffin]] small standoff munitions in quick succession.<ref name="PGB">Hambling, David. [https://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/06/spec-ops-shops-for-10-pack-of-precision-glide-bombs/#Replay "Spec Ops Shops for 10-pack of precision guided bombs"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328234949/http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/06/spec-ops-shops-for-10-pack-of-precision-glide-bombs/ |date=28 March 2014 }}. WIRED, 25 June 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2009.</ref><ref name="Socom seeks $200 Million reprogramming for MC-130W gunship mods">Reed, John. ''Inside The Air Force'', 17 July 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2009.</ref> Initial supplemental funds to the 2010 Defense Authorization Bill were for two kits to be installed in 2010.<ref>Maze, Rick. [http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/06/military_armedservices_authorizationbill_061109w/# "Panel adds $308 million to spec ops budget"] ''Navy Times'', 11 June 2009. Retrieved 2 October 2009.</ref>

The MC-130W Dragon Spear went from concept to flying with a minimum capability in less than 90 days, and from concept to deployment in 18 months.<ref>[http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20170704074654/http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=5651904&c=SEA&s=TOP SOCOM Moved Quickly To Create Daytime Gunship] Marcus Weisgerber: 8 February 2011</ref> Its success won its program the William J. Perry Award, and it became the model for the [[AC-130J]] gunship program.<ref>Duncan, Capt. Kristen D. [https://www.afsoc.af.mil/News/story/id/123244936/ "Benchmark 'Dragon Spear' program earns William J. Perry Award"] . ''Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs''</ref>

The first partially converted MC-130W arrived in Afghanistan in late 2010.  It fired its first weapon one month after arriving, killing five enemy combatants with a [[AGM-114 Hellfire|Hellfire]] missile. In May 2012 the Dragon Spear was redesignated the [[Lockheed AC-130|AC-130W Stinger II]]. By September 2013, 14 aircraft had been converted into gunships.  The conversion added a sensor package consisting of day/night video cameras with magnification capability.<ref name="stinger2"/>