In a rather interesting first, the U.S. Air Force landed an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship on a public highway.
According to a press release, this historic achievement took place on August 4, 2024, on Highway 63 in Bono, Arkansas, as part of the Emerald Warrior Field Training Exercise II.
The exercise, designed to showcase Air Force Special Operations Command’s (AFSOC) Agile Combat Employment (ACE) capabilities, involved more than just the landing of the Ghostrider.
Tech. Sgt. Robert Gallagher, the lead planner for the highway landings, noted, “This exercise serves as a significant milestone for AFSOC, demonstrating our ability to operate in diverse and austere environments. By leveraging ACE concepts, we enhance our operational flexibility and resilience.”
Throughout the morning, Special Tactics Airmen from the 1st Special Operations Wing established and secured the landing zone on the highway. This set the stage for a series of operations that saw a C-146A Wolfhound and an MC-130J Commando II from the 492nd Special Operations Wing land on the five-lane road.
The MC-130J crew then set up a Forward Arming and Refuelling Point (FARP), allowing the AC-130J, which is assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida, to land, refuel, rearm, and take off again.
The primary objective of the exercise was to validate AFSOC’s capability to operate in austere environments with minimal infrastructure. Key tasks included securing the landing zone and performing FARP operations, which are critical elements of the ACE framework.
Col. Patrick Dierig, commander of the 1st Special Operations Wing, commented, “Emerald Warrior FTX II demonstrates to our adversaries that we can meet them anytime, any place, anywhere, without the need for traditional runways to project air power. By landing an AC-130J on a highway and conducting FARP, we’re proving our ability to operate in austere and unique environments.”
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If this was in the uk ,the raf would probably have to pay roadtax ,and perhaps have an ongoing mot certificate
🏴Couldn’t land in Wales…are C130s able to do 20mph.
What a versatile aircraft the 130 is.
Don’t forget if it had been any major Rd around London ULEZ fee’s would have too be paid for as well
Footage from Highway 84 in Germany. You see a C160, but C130s could do it, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYpbI9Myrb0
Just in case vladolf putler is unsure that we can do dispersed operations in the real world..
Standard Operating Procedures in Nordic Air Operations. Yes, there are a lot of straight Highways without street lights in the countryside …
It’s all bollocks as far as we are concerned, what could we land on a road, maybe an f35 but it would be stuck there for good, no more hercs for us, we’ll just hope for other countries help….. Good old England.
On the island of Cyprus, they’ve got public roads and a motorway that can be used in emergency situations for aeroplanes to land and refuel. That’s why their roads have very few central protecting barriers.
Hmmm…dunno, always had a pronounced preference for take-offs and landings on long, wide, unobstructed, runways. Only a matter of time before someone suggests replicating this exercise w/ A400. Eventually, someone else will seek to involve Bones and BUFFs in this circus show. Hope they don’t manage to prang one during these demos! 🤔🤞🤞🙄
Britain,should never have got ridden of the “good old herc’s.l flew and worked on many,during my career in the RAF.It was a sorry day when they flew for the last time,here in the UK.
So, what the US army are saying publicly is, if you don’t want this to happen in your country, create pinch points or central reservations on all roads with 4 lanes or more 🤦🏻♂️
I think I’m supposed to be impressed by this exercise, but I will be when the do this on the M25 at 4pm on a weekday.
Couldn’t do it in the UK, to many potholes.
Les.