Gunships now able to interact with fighters

  • Published
  • By Capt. James Conley
  • 46th Test Squadron
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 46th Test Wing recently performed a developmental test of Link 16 integrated onto the AC-130U Gunship for the 667th Aeronautical Systems Squadron. Testing took place at Hurlburt Field on the Gunship and in the Datalinks Test Facility at Eglin. 

These tests began in June and were performed by the 46th TW's 46th Test Squadron's Datalinks Test Flight. The 413th Flight Test Squadron, the prime developmental tester and data collector for the AC-130U, also contributed with test preparation and management. 

The purpose of the test was to measure the Gunship's ability to interact with other weapon systems operating on the Link 16 network, including F-16s, F-15s, E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar Systems, and E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System. In addition, Link 16 must work in conjunction with the many communication resources already onboard the Gunships. 

To accomplish its primary mission of close air support, the Gunship still communicates the old fashion way to ground forces: voice over UHF. Recently, the Cursor on Target network came onboard along with the Machine-to-Machine Situational Awareness system. Radio connectivity problems prevented this system from reaching its full potential of providing a secure communication path to the ground. 

The Chief of Staff of the Air Force directed the gunship to receive Link 16 for improved situational awareness, command and control connectivity, and interaction with coalition fighter aircraft. Initially, BAE Systems in Crestview, Fla., upgraded one AC-130U gunship to include Link 16 with future plans to upgrade the whole fleet. 

With the high deployment rate of the Air Force Special Operations Command's resources limit the amount of time and support for test missions. Aircraft, personnel, and equipment deploy to Southwest Asia so often that using even one Gunship for several months for testing presented a significant challenge. 

To help alleviate the strain on AFSOC resources, the 667th AESS provided the 46 TS a lab representation of the Gunship for testing in the Datalink Test Facility. By using this gunship lab for a majority of the testing, the 46th TS limited the amount of time needed for testing on the actual aircraft. 

When the 46th TS test team transitioned to Hurlburt Field for ground and flight testing, the 413 FLTS supported the test squadron with logistics, test execution, and data recording. The mobile Link 16 van was parked on the Hurlburt flightline during ground testing. 

"We will be demonstrating a new capability on the gunship... getting the war fighter what they need to better fight the (Global War On Terrorism)," said Maj. Peter Dugas, Link 16 Program Management lead and 667th AESS director of operations. 

Gunship aircrew saw the potential benefits during flight testing by interacting with the F-15s and F-16s flying out of Eglin as well as Tyndall AFB, Fla. On a daily basis, these fighters use the 46th TS and the DTF lab's Gulf Common Network. 

"There was one flight when it all came together for the navigator, Capt Matt Lewis," said the flight test engineer, 2nd Lt. Dan Rushton, both 46th TS members. "During the Gunship's first flight in the GCN, you could see his eyes light up. It's a whole new world of situational awareness and force interoperability for one of our nation's fiercest aircraft." 

When the Gunship joins the Link 16 network, they see targets marked by fighters and share their own target information with Link 16 players. One H-model Gunship has just come back from Crestview with the addition of Link 16 for developmental testing during October and November. 

Future plans include upgrading the entire AC-130H and MC-130 fleets with Link 16 once all developmental and operational testing is complete.