The problem is, it can still only operate at night or in bad weather. clear skies and daylight make a relatively slow C130 a very attractive target for things like large caliber AA guns.
Yup.
This the reason why an AC-130 was blown out of the sky in 1991. It lingered into the morning hours and was shot down with the loss of all 14 crew.
In fact you don't want an AC-130 anywhere near a proper air defence system or even in an area full of reasonably advanced MANPADS.
The aircraft is pure COIN.
There's been a few other smaller and cheaper COIN birds out on the market that combined modern tech (including precision strike) with long loiter time.
Cessna AC-208 Combat Caravan (armed with Hellfire ATGMs)
Being used actively in Iraq and Afghanistan.
EMB-314 Super Tucano
Extremely popular Brazilian that has sold well and even won a US competition for light aircraft.
Super Tucanos were apparently instrumental in helping dismantle FARC in Colombia and bringing them to the negotiating table
AT-6C Texan II
Based on US T-6 trainer (itself a development of Swiss PC-9). No export success yet.
CASA AC-235
A Spanish product based on the very successful CN-235 transport plane. Very much a mini-AC-130. Packs Hellfires, 70mm rockets and a 30mm cannon.
2 have been ordered by Royal Jordanian Air Force.
Air Tractor AT802U
Ugly as sin and based on a light agricultural/fire fighting aircraft.
Again packs the universal Hellfire as well as Mk82 bombs, cannon pods, unguided and guided rockets
These have seen combat in Libya and Yemen (primarily UAE).
In all instances these aircraft also pack significant reconnaissance capabilities (usually referred to as ISTAR – information, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance).
Meanwhile sales of jet aircraft including previously popular armed jet trainers ala Hawk or Alpha Jet has completely declined.
Indeed where once there were MiG-21s or F-5s or Macchi MB326s or AT-33s, there's now usually EMB-314, AC-208 Combat Caravan as well as Mi-25/35 Hind and Mi-17s.
finally begins Vietnam.
