The theory and application of non-lethal weapons is not new and has been in use by ground combat troops and civil authorities for some time, in situations requiring the application of less than lethal force. With the increasing involvement of US military in operations other than war, the AC-130 Gunship has been the weapon of choice to provide air support. This paper analyzes the viability of integrating existing non-lethal technologies with current AC-130 Gunships' weapons and equipment for use in supporting combat operations or Military Operations Other Than War. The research begins with an overview of the gunship's current capabilities, roles and missions followed by a summarization of current and future non-lethal weapons. There appears to be current and emerging weapons technology which shows great potential in fulfilling the non-lethal requirement for Air Force Special Operations Command's AC-130 Gunships. Many issues, however, must be addressed before these weapons are fully integrated into the AC-130's arsenal. Technical and engineering evaluation, funding, training, doctrine reviews, safety, and legal concerns are some issues requiring further assessment. Given the capabilities and flexibility of the gunship and mission suitability, non-lethal weapons integration will enhance US military mission accomplishment by providing commanders a full range of weaponry from an airborne platform which was not previously available to them.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.