What is the NOGS system?
(Updated 04/17/01) NOGS, or Night Observation Gunship System, was the original OV-10D development. The sponsons were removed, the FLIR turret was installed on a lengthened nose to enable night operations, and an M-197 20mm gun turret (similar to that used on the AH-1 Cobra gunship) was added underneath the fuselage between the sponson locations. External wing fuel tanks were also added. Combat trials with two prototypes were quite successful, however funding was not available to continue. The modifications to enable quick incorporation of the gun system was however incorporated into all D models, although funding never came through to actually use the system. After the combat tests, the bigger (1040shp) engines were made standard on D models and the original sponsons were reinstalled.
