The United States Special Operations Command South (SOCSOUTH) released on Monday (11) images of training carried out in the Caribbean Sea, amid the tensions of a possible conflict between Guyana and Venezuela. The video shows the moment in which an AC-130 Ghostrider plane shoots at simulated targets during the activity carried out last Thursday (07), the same day that the USA carried out military maneuvers in Guyana.
Images released this week show the AC-130J, seen by an infrared sensor (FLIR), making a turn to the left while firing the 23 mm GAU-30/A cannon.
"Our #SOF [Special Operations Forces] aerial assets routinely conduct training and exercises in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility to remain alert and agile in ing the t force and partner nations.”, says the publication of SOCSOUTH.
“Fire for Effect” An AC-130J Ghostrider gunship takes aim on training targets over the Caribbean Sea, Dec. 7, 2023. Our #SOF air assets routinely conduct training and exercises in the @SOUTHCOM area of responsibility to stay sharp and agile in of the t force and… pic.twitter.com/r3b8a0lKqs
—SOCSOUTH (@SOCSOUTH) December 11, 2023
SOCSOUTH is responsible for US special operations activities in the area of Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which encomes the Caribbean and South America. By X (formerly Twitter). On Twitter (currently X), the Command said that “special forces of the United States carried out a t training course in the Southern Caribbean that included elements from the Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard. The event not only enhanced readiness and interoperability, but also demonstrated capability and security for the region.”
Operated by the US Air Force (USAF) Special Operations Command, the AC-130 is used to provide fire to operators on the ground. The model, based on the C-130 freighter, emerged during the Vietnam War and has been evolving ever since.
Its latest and most modern version features integrated digital avionics, new mission management software, state-of-the-art navigation and secure communication systems and other items. As for armaments, the AC-130J has, in addition to the 30 mm cannon, a 105 mm howitzer, both mounted on the left side, and can carry AGM-114 Hellfire and AGM-176 Griffin missiles and GBU-39, GBU-44 and GBU-53 bombs.
