Created by the National Defense Research Committee, Felix relied on infrared to detect and home on heat-emitting targets in clear weather;[1] blast furnaces were considered a particularly practical target for such a weapon, as were the reflective metal roofs of factory buildings.

Felix was a 1000-pound (454 kg) general purpose (GP) bomb with an infrared seeker in the nose and octagonal guidance fins in the tail.

[3] Successful trials led to Felix being put in production in 1945, but the Pacific War ended before it entered combat.

[4] A naval version of the Felix, the ASM-N-4 Dove, was approved in 1944; in 1946 the project was transferred to Eastman Kodak, and in 1949 a contract for 20 prototype weapons was issued.

Dove's infrared seeker was expected to be capable of correcting 400-metre (1,300 ft) aiming errors; trials took place through 1952, but no production was undertaken.