Unrivaled Giants: Unveiling the World's Largest and Costliest Military Aircraft
4. The Stinger II AC-130W
Entered Service: 1968
Retirement Status: N/A
Cost: $122 Million
The AC-130W Stinger II, part of the famed gunship family, excels at close air support, convoy escort, and air interdiction. Exclusive to the U.S. Air Force, it brings precision firepower to the battlefield.
Lockheed Martin’s design mounts weapons along the port side, allowing the aircraft to circle targets in a pylon turn and deliver sustained, accurate fire.
Simply put, the Stinger II shields ground forces and disrupts adversaries, proving indispensable in modern combat.
AC-130W Stinger II
With unpressurized cabins for mission efficiency, AC-130 crews exploit the Stinger II’s wide-ranging arsenal to engage both planned and emergent threats. Its unique tactics give troops a constant guardian overhead.
