DAYTON, Ohio - The AN/AVQ-23 Pave Spike on display in the Research & Development Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Note: This exhibit is located in the Research & Development Gallery on a controlled-access portion of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The gallery will close until further notice beginning May 1, 2013, as part of budget reduction requirements due to sequestration.
Pave Spike is a 420-pound electro-optical laser designator pod used to
direct laser-guided bombs to target in day, visual conditions. The second
generation Pave Spike was developed from the AN/AVQ-10 Pave Knife targeting pod that first saw operational use in Southeast Asia. USAF F-4D and F-4E aircraft used the Pave Spike from 1974 until 1989. This system was also used by the RAF on Buccaneer aircraft for precision bombing of enemy targets in Operation Desert Storm. USAF aircraft used follow-on laser designator systems such as Pave Tack (F-111F) and LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting InfraRed system for Night) (F-15E), which also provided a night attack capability.
