In late December 2001 a Department of Defense Program Budget Decision (PBD) called for purchasing at least eight additional AC-130U Spooky gunships,
and initiating work on a possible replacement gunship aircraft. The PBD added funding to accelerate and fully fund an Advanced Concept
Technology Demonstration for the AC(X) aircraft. The AC(X) could be either a further upgrade to the existing AC-130 an entirely new follow-on system.
A formal procurement program for the AC(X) was expected to begin in Fiscal Year 2005 (FY05).
Special operators want the new gunship, or AC-X, to be much smaller than a C-130, with fewer crew members. They want it to be stealthy, with the speed
and maneuverability of a long-range jet fighter. They want it equipped with directed energy weapons and non-lethal technologies, and it should be able
to engage targets from any angle-above and below, front and back.
So what do you guys think? Should we make a new, stealthy, DE weapon equiped, super fast, uber maneuverable gunship extrordinare or should we just
upgrade the AC-130's?
Methinks the new one would be cool
Just watching some of the vids of these things in action show that. BTW,
what branch were you in? 
