USAF to declare IOC for AC-130J this month

The commander of U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command disclosed that the service will declare Initial Operating Capability for its newest gunship – AC-130J – later this month.

U.S. Air Force photo/Sara Vidoni

But the aircraft will not be going into combat anytime soon as the command is lagging behind in training operators for the new variant. Lt. Gen. Marshall Webb says two more years are required before sending it to combat.