HUNTSVILLE, Ala., March 13 (UPI) -- A new guided bomb is to be tested out on the U.S. AC-130 gunship and could make the heavily armed aircraft a more potent asset for U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
U.S. Special Operations Command awarded Northrop Grumman a $7.4 million contract to demonstrate the compatibility of the AC-130 with the Viper Strike, a precision-guided piece of ordnance designed to hit targets in urban areas.
The contract announced by the Pentagon Monday is a modification of an earlier contract awarded to test the Viper Strike aboard an unmanned aerial vehicle. The actual work will be carried out in Huntsville, Ala.
Viper Strike carries a relatively small explosive charge designed to destroy vehicles and other small targets in tight quarters without causing widespread collateral damage.
Analysts see the Viper Strike as adding a new wrinkle to the legendary firepower of the AC-130. Although the special ops gunship bristles with guns and targeting sensors, its effectiveness has been limited by the threat of shoulder-launched missiles.
The plane currently has to fly low to the ground in a circle in order to bring its weapons to bear. Equipping the AC-130 with a standoff weapon like the Viper Strike would allow it to fly higher and faster during daylight hours and make it less of a target.
