Could also be used for counter-terrorism. Imagine deploying to Pakistan, or somewhere in Africa.
There are lot of use cases against not high end opponents.
I think for the near term China will not be deploying such assets abroad. Maybe for export customers. Until the Taiwan situation is resolved foreign deployment will not be a priority.
This is a thing. Ukraine has been using AN28s configured with M134 Gatling guns similar to old AC47 Spooky. We have seen in Epic Fury Shahed drones being attacked by attack choppers and the like.
So this could be the PLAAF looking at such a concept based off concerns for systems like LUCAS drones.
The anti aircraft gun systems easily duel role as anti vehic and anti personnel systems.
An AC130J hasn’t been deployed against drones but its 30mm cannons are of the same type used in a number of anti aircraft systems.
Even if it’s only packing .30 caliber Gatling guns that’s still a lot of firepower from the sky.
If it’s packing launcher pylons then it’s probably either to launch smaller UAS possibly including one way drones.
In addition, a couple of potential use cases for a Sino-AC-130 in terms of sea-based applications that I could think of:
- Firing warning shots or even rubber bullets against intruding "fishing boat flotillas" from opposing country(ies) in the SCS and ECS during peacetime maritime law enforcement.
- Anti-piracy patrol against pirates on fast boats during peacetime.
- Assist in hunting and/or defense against enemy high-speed and/or stealthy infiltration crafts during wartime.
- Assist in defense against enemy fast attack missile crafts and USVs when conducting amphibious operations against enemy beachheads.
