Air Force Unit’s New Ammo-Linking Machine Saves $4 Million a Year

Air Force unit’s new ammo-linking machine saves $4 million a year

A U.S. Air Force special operations unit pioneered a new ammunition-linking machine in an effort to save the force millions by upcycling rounds. The 1st Special Operations Wing, located at Hurlburt Field, Florida, uses millions of 30 mm rounds from retiring A-10 Thunderbolt IIs without an assigned platform for use on AC-130J Ghostriders, according to a Wednesday release.The release states that the service expects to transfer hundreds of thousand…

AFSOC's New Ammo-Linking Machine Saving Millions

Story by Senior Airman Isabel Tanner. HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. — The 1st Special Operations Wing introduced a new 30 mm ammunition-linking machine at Hurlburt Field on April 21, 2026, an innovation set to save the Air Force millions by repurposing rounds from retiring A-10 Thunderbolt IIs for use on AC-130J Ghostriders. The initiative stems from the planned future retirement of the A-10, which will leave millions of 30 mm rounds without an assigned …