thumb|200px|AN/ASQ-153 Pave Spike
The Westinghouse AN/ASQ-153\AN/AVQ-23 Pave Spike is an electro-optical laser designator targeting pod used to direct laser-guided bombs (LGBs) to target in daylight, visual conditions. It contained a laser boresighted to a television camera, which displayed its image on a cockpit screen.
Development
Pave Spike was developed (alongside Pave Tack) replace the earlier Pave Knife laser designator in daylight conditions. Pave Knife was used by the USAF F-4D/E Phantom II and was bulky, slowing the F-4 and restricting maneuverability while occupying one of the weapons pylons on the F-4. Pave Spike was much smaller, the 144-inch-long (3.66 m), 420-lb (209 kg) pod was designed for carriage on the left, forward AIM-7 Sparrow missile station of the F-4. Because it was smaller and nestled into the semi-submerged AIM-7 station, it did not restrict F-4 speed or maneuverability, nor did it occupy a precious weapons pylon. The F-4 still had three AIM-7 stations in which it could carry the usual radar-guided missiles. Pave Spike, like Pave Knife, had a clear dome nose through which a television camera viewed the target area, and through which the laser could fire to designate the target. The entire nose assembly gimbaled to look throughout the hemisphere below the jet.
thumb|right|Pave Spike carried on an F-4E
By 1976 the F–4 Fighter Weapons School squadron, the 414th Fighter Weapons Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, was flying its F-4E fighters with the new Pave Spike pod and learning how to employ the system throughout its performance envelope. The pod was on the leading edge of technology for the day and had several operating modes and bombing options. Later in the air campaign, these aircraft would carry laser-designated bombs themselves.
The pod was replaced by systems like LANTIRN and AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR.
The National Museum of the United States Air Force holds a Pave Spike in its collection.
See also
- List of military electronics of the United States