The U.S. Air Force has scrapped plans to flight test an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship armed with a laser directed energy weapon ...

Fortunately, the “howitzer Huey” never materialized. It was likely an unworkable concept, given the helicopter’s limitations.

Indeed, the cogitations the Army went through on the howitzer-mounted helicopter likely factored into its successful development of later flying artillery systems, such as the famed AC-130 gunship.

The AC-130 is the world's biggest flying artillery gunship - nicknamed 'Hell in the Sky.' With three side-firing weapons, a 25mm Gatling gun, a 40mm Bofors cannon, and a 105mm howitzer ...