What does PAVE stand for?

Short answer - it's a code word that didn't originally stand for anything.

Long answer - see http://www.aerofiles.com/pave.html

Thank you very much, it figures!

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tailspinturtle Short answer - it's a code word that didn't originally stand for anything. Long answer - see http://www.aerofiles.com/pave.html

Having worked many of the Pave Systems, this is a subject I'm somewhat familiar with. The "no meaning" debate has been going on for years. But having worked Many "PAVE" systems starting in the 70's I have to say we were taught that is did stand for "Percision Angular Vectoring Equipment" because of the nature of the way the equipment performed it's operations. Systems such as Knife, Spike, Penny, and Tack were referecnces to the precision at which the system guided munitions... Knife was used in Vietnam where multiple munitions were dropped at once and in effect sliced the target, then came the one bomb one target concept with the others. Spike refered to a point the size of a railroad spike, penny the size of a penny and Tack the size of a thumb tack.

While I can't confirm later PAVE systems such as LOW and Hawk. I'm sure the Pave still retained it's meaning. I do recall seeing the definition in at least one official USAF Technical Publication. So whether or not it officially meant the definition above, it is a common definition today. However, I tend to believe it did, due to the way the systems operated with lasers to calculated the angles and altitudes at which to drop bombs. Considering that the Knife system was developed in the late 60's and Spike systems in the early 70's, I would like to know when this Col adv'd that the military went to no meaning identifiers.

Bottom line is that there will always be those who agree and those who disagree with me, but having worked with all the PAVE systems listed above except Knife and Hawk, the definition was common at all bases/assignments I worked.

For what it's worth...

Don