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Rockwell GBU-15. Turning toward a target, this USAF F-111D displays its deadly payload of two GBU-15s and their associated Hughes AN/AXO-14 data/ink pod. GBU-15 isn't cheap, at US$135,000 apiece, but even so is a cost-effective tool when dealing with heavily defended targets. The USAF currently has well over 700 rounds in stock with an outlook towards further increase; Rockwell apparently suggest a unit cost of around US$60,000, given the USAF orders another 1300 rounds. The complete weapon weighs in at 2450 lb and some sources suggest up to 20 nm of standoff range, for a high-speed launch. (USAF)
Pave Tack And The Gbu-15 Greatly Expand Raaf Strike Capabilities
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The Vietnam conflict saw widespread use of radar targeting in night or adverse weather conditions; though well suited to soft-skinned targets, this technique is limited in accuracy to around 100 feet and thus isn’t ideal for hitting hardened point targets. Daylight attacks in the final phase of the conflict often utilised the Paveway laser-guided bomb, with a miss distance of several feet, the weapon targeted by the AN/AVQ-10 Pave Knife TV/laser pod. The USAF was more than pleased with the performance of Pave Knife, but was very unhappy about the inherent daytime-only limitation of the system. This led to the development of Pave Tack, an infra-red imaging laser target designator. Pave Tack was initially destined to equip the F-4E, RF-4C, F-111E and F-111F in USAF service, however this has since been altered. The analogue F-111E did not receive the pod, and Europe-based USAFE received pods only for the F-111F and tactical recce RF-4C. Carried by an F-4 the pod is pylon mounted, the F-111 however employs a more sophisticated mounting, that being a retractable cradle mounting in the fuselage weapons bay.
The Ford Aerospace AN/AVO-26 Pave Tack was designed with performance in mind, above all. To that effect the USAF willingly accepted substantial increases in system weight to get maximum picture quality; to date Pave Tack has not been matched in that respect.
Weighing 1280 lb, Pave Tack may be physically divided into two sections, a base section and head section (please see diagram). The head section is comprised of a roll turret with a ±92 degree roll angle, the turret constraining the actual Flir head which may pitch from Oto 180 degrees. As a result, the pod may view the entire lower hemisphere and small portions of the upper hemisphere.
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