US Special Forces pursuing AC-130-based ‘active denial system’ - 7/29/2015 - Flight Global: US Air Force Special Operations Command’s plan to mount an airborne laser and active denial system onto its new AC-130J Ghostrider gunship is maturing and has the strong support of the scientific community within the flying branch.
AFSOC chief Lt Gen Bradley Heithold outlined his “five-year plan” to install directed energy weapons on several Block 60 Ghostriders at a 28 July Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments directed energy summit in Washington.
The laser would be used initially to defend against missiles and to disable cars, boats, and small aircraft and communications equipment. The active denial system – better known as a heat ray or microwave energy gun – would be used to target threatening crowds or individuals on the ground.
