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From: carlo@bruce.cs.monash.OZ.AU (Carlo KOPP)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: PAVE xxx?
Keywords: PAVE PAWS LOW SPECTRE
Message-ID: <1990Nov15.014711.3409@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 15 Nov 90 01:47:11 GMT
References: <1990Oct29.032929.10381@cbnews.att.com>
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From: carlo@bruce.cs.monash.OZ.AU (Carlo KOPP)

In <1990Oct29.032929.10381@cbnews.att.com> fvance@airgun.wg.waii.com (Frank Vance) writes:



>From: fvance@airgun.wg.waii.com (Frank Vance)

>What are some of the various PAVE programs, and what do they have in
>common, such that they get a PAVE name?

Historically the Pave prefix has been used by the USAF in designating systems
with some _precision_ capability, this practice dates back to the early 
seventies or late sixties. Of recent the usage appears to have broadened, in 
that the term has also been used in association with RPVs (Pave Tiger) etc.

>Apparently, PAVE LOW is the name for a Search and Rescue behind-the-lines
>helicopter, PAVE SPECTRE was the development name for the AC-130 Hercules
>gunship, and somebody just mentioned PAVE PAWS as a radar unit. But I
>thought I had read of PAVE PAWS in the same context as PAVE LOW?

The oldest instances I can recall of the usage date back to the early seventies,
eg the Pave Nail, Pave Spike laser designator pods, and the Pave Penny spot 
tracker pod . The most well known system at this time is the Ford Aerospace 
AN/AVQ-26 Pave Tack thermal imaging/laser ranging/designating pod carried by 
the USAF F-111F (48th TFW currently in Turkey) and the Australian RAAF F-111C 
(1 and 6 Sqn at Amberley, Queensland).  

The Pave Low family of helicopters are role modified CH/HH-53 helicopters with 
refuelling probes, Flir, extensive electronic warfare systems, additional nav 
equipment, Miniguns and long range fuel tanks. These aircraft are used for 
night/IFR insertion and extraction of personnel from hostile areas, eg shot 
down aviators, agents or special forces units.

>I'm confused....

Don't be, the USAF scheme scheme for allocating program names appears to be 
quite arbitrary, is there anybody out there who could shed a bit of light on 
how it is done ?

Carlo Kopp	carlo@gaia.gcs.oz.au, carlo@bruce.cs.monash.oz.au

Australian Aviation (journal)