AFSOC’s New Ammo-Linking Machine for AC-130J Ghostrider Saving Millions
June 18, 2026 DVIDS AFSOC 0
AFSOC Ammo-Linking Machine
Story by Senior Airman Isabel Tanner.
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. — The 1st Special Operations Wing introduced a new 30 mm ammunition-linking machine at Hurlburt Field on April 21, 2026, an innovation set to save the Air Force millions by repurposing rounds from retiring A-10 Thunderbolt IIs for use on AC-130J Ghostriders.
The initiative stems from the planned future retirement of the A-10, which will leave millions of 30 mm rounds without an assigned platform. The Air Force plans to transfer several hundred thousand of those rounds a year to Air Force Special Operations Command for use on the gunships.
However, this transfer presented a logistical hurdle: the A-10 employs unlinked ammunition, while the AC-130J requires continuous belts for automatic, high-rate feeding. The new machine bridges this gap by connecting up to 15 rounds in seconds, shifting munitions management directly into the hands of Airmen rather than expensive external vendors.
https://sof.news/afsoc/afsocs-ammo-linking-machine/
