AC-130 gunship

Yes, but we cannot build A-10s, we can only buy them, whereas if we could make some workable gunship out of "junky" C-130s, that could mean some jobs here and maybe some markets in Africa or somewhere.
Anyway, it was just an idea, after I've read that Romania planned to buy more C-130s.
As for "does Romania need it", in my view, A-10s would be more than Romania needs, whereas AC-130s would be more suited for our level.

take care

Yes, will be jobs for some workers but this is so limited... You don't think about some serie production/up-grade to "gunship", no? Because will be not so much, maybe 10 maximum. And, don't forget about electronics and weapon systems. We don't have it, and we will buy them, all of them. If Romanian military industry had in production some of the equipments, maybe we will obtain something, but so....

Iama

My advice would be to think about how any Romanian gunship would be used. Several different types of aircraft have been mentioned in this thread: A-10s, helicopters, and fixed wing gunships a la AC-130. While they are all used in close air support, they are very different.

A-10s were designed to attack mechanized forces in the contested airspace of NATO/ Warsaw Pact Europe. They don't depend on having complete control of the air. A fixed-wing gunship does. If the enemy can get even an old fighter in to the air, you're dead (unless the fighter pilot is stupid enough to fly along the wrong side of the gunship for a close look... then HE's dead )

What role do you see for these gunships? Ground support on peace-keeping/ peace-making missions like Afghanistan? They could be useful there. They can stay on station a long time, and put out an amazing amount of firepower.

Another thing to keep in mind: "fixed-wing gunship" does not have to equal "AC-130". The US used AC-47 gunships in Vietnam. These were much lower-tech than AC-130s, they used lots of parts taken from other aircraft. But they were effective, as this cartoon shows.

(For those who noticed I skipped discussing attack helicopters, you're right. It's just a prejudice of mine. I think they're too fragile and too maintenance-intensive. Take me in to battle in a transport helicopter, but give me fixed wing CAS once I arrive)

This post has been edited by Jeff_S on March 07, 2006 08:26 pm

Because in this topic is writed about romanian C-130 from 1961, look at our neighbour - Bulgaria:

Alenia Aeronautica Signs Agreement with Bulgaria for Five C-27J Aircraft and Options for Three More


Source: Finmeccanica
Feb. 24, 2006


"Bulgaria’s ministry of defence today signed an agreement to supply five C-27Js, the tactical military transport aircraft produced by Finmeccanica subsidiary Alenia Aeronautica and the US company Lockheed Martin. The agreement includes options for a further three aircraft. This concludes the talks that began in April last year with the Bulgarian government's selection of the C-27J to replace the country's fleet of Soviet-built An-26 aircraft.

The C-27J will be used to transport troops and materials not only at home but also abroad, as part of operations for NATO (of which Bulgaria has been a member since April 2004). It will give the Bulgarian armed forces, which are currently upgrading their equipment, an aircraft that fully meets the interoperability standards demanded by NATO.

The first plane is scheduled for delivery in June 2007, and the rest will be delivered at a rate of one per year. The C-27J is the most advanced programme of next-generation tactical military transport aircraft available.

In addition to Bulgaria, the Italian and Greek air forces have also ordered 12 planes each. In the United States, Alenia Aeronautica is in talks to provide the C-27J as part of the US military’s programme to upgrade its tactical airlifter fleet, while in Canada, it will bid for contracts to replace the country’s search and rescue fleet.

Finland, Australia, Taiwan, Ireland, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, as well as new NATO members such as the Czech Republic, are also evaluating the C-27J. "

Maybe - and i say that with F16, second hand, in my mind - maybe we are afraid of new eqipments...

Iama

We need some more Hercs. The C-130J would be nice. But what are we to do with a gunship? Use it for... what? Better invest in a true airlift fleet, modern and larger than it is today, not in gunships.

This post has been edited by Burner on April 15, 2006 05:19 pm

WWIII is on its way, havent you heard? Me thinks a gunship would be more useful than an airlift fleet.
Actually, forget about it, some investment in infrastructure (dams, briges) would be more useful.

take care