ORAC
I agree about the mention of a la-s-er in the article, but my suggestion was a general one.
The AC130 has a very specific mission set (using technology taken from a peaceful idea for once rather than the other way round).
With modern SAMs having a longer range than the tradition anti radiation missiles used against them I could imagine a CIWS armed large aircraft that could also act as a misileer could be useful to have loitering as it could soak up longer ranged missiles while allowing growlers etc to get in closer to the radar sites.
That may be total pie in the sky and there may be no takers to sit in a large loitering aircraft but its still an idea.