AGM-123 Skipper
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The AGM-123 Skipper is a missile developed by the United States of America.
Overview
The Skipper is a short range missile intended for precision strikes. It is essentially a laser guided bomb with a rocket attached to allow it to be dropped at greater distances from the target. The guidance system is a standard Paveway II laser kit, which is attached to a Mark 83 bomb. Propulsion is provided by tandem mounted Mk 78 solid propellant rockets which both fire simultaneously on launch.
The increased range of the weapon compared to a freefall bomb allowed the aircraft a degree of protection from surface to air missiles and anti aircraft artillery. The Skipper was an anti ship weapon, capable of disabling the largest vessels due to the powerful 450 kg impact fused warhead of the Mk 83 bomb. It could be carried by the A-6E Intruder, A-7 Corsair II, and F/A-18.
The AGM-112 was developed at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center.
Specifications
- Length : 4.3 m (14 ft 1.2 in)
- Wingspan : 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
- Diameter : 0.5 m (1 ft 7.6 in)
- Weight : 582 kg (1,283 lb)
- Maximum Speed : 1,100 km/h (680 mph)
- Range : 25 km (15.5 miles)
- Propulsion : Thiokol MK 17 MOD 3 solid-fuel rocket
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