Editing Lockheed AC-130 (section)

=== Retired ===
'''AC-130A Spectre''' (Project Gunship II, Surprise Package, Pave Pronto)
:Conversions of [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|C-130As]]; 19 completed; transferred to [[Air Force Reserve]] in 1975, retired in 1995.<ref name="Pave Pronto" />

'''AC-130E Spectre''' (Pave Spectre, Pave Aegis)
:Conversions of [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules|C-130Es]]; 11 completed; 10 upgraded to AC-130H configuration.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 January 2009 |title=Lockheed AC-130H |url=http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3226 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913013658/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3226 |archive-date=13 September 2011 |website=[[National Museum of the United States Air Force]]}}</ref>

'''AC-130H Spectre'''
:Upgraded AC-130E aircraft; 8 completed; last aircraft retired in 2015.<ref name="af26may15" />

'''AC-130U Spooky'''
:The 3rd generation AC-130 gunship.<ref name="AF_factsht_AC-130U 2021">{{cite web |url= https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104486/ac-130u/ |title= AC-130U |publisher= [[US Air Force]] |date= January 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221009010427/http://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104486/ac-130u/ |archive-date= 9 October 2022 |url-status= live}}</ref> The variant was retired in June 2020.<ref name=AC-130U_Fact_Sheet/>

'''AC-130W Stinger II''' (formerly known as the [[Lockheed MC-130#MC-130W Dragon Spear|MC-130W Dragon Spear]])
:In May 2012 MC-130W Dragon Spear was renamed to AC-130W Stinger II.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AC-130W Stinger II |url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104485/ac-130w-stinger-ii/ |access-date=30 September 2024 |website=U.S. Air Force}}</ref>12 MC-130W's converted to gunships.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AC-130W Stinger II Archives |url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/weapons-platforms/ac-130w/ |access-date=2024-12-14 |website=Air & Space Forces Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> The variant was retired in July 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 June 2022 |title=AC-130W Stinger II Retirement |url=https://www.hqmc.marines.mil/News/MarinesTV/videoid/846963/dvpTag/Gunship/ |access-date=30 September 2024 |website=Headquarters Marine Corps (.mil) |quote="...along with the remaining two AC-130Ws stationed at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., will be effectively retired next month, by order of the Secretary of the Air Force."}}</ref>