AGM-12 Bullpup
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The AGM-12 Bullpup is an air-to-ground missile which was used on the A-4 Skyhawk, A-6 Intruder and F-4 Phantom among others. It has been superseded by more advanced armaments, notably the AGM-62 Walleye and AGM-65 Maverick.
The Bullpup was the first mass-produced air-surface command guided missile, first deployed by the United States Navy in 1959 — initially designated the ASM-N-7 until it was redesignated AGM-12B in 1962. It was developed as a result of experiences in the Korean war where US airpower had great difficulty in destroying targets which required precise aiming and were often heavily defended, such as bridges.
The Bullpup was roll-stabilized and visually guided by the pilot or weapons operator using flares on the back of the missile to track the weapon in flight while using a control joystick to steer it toward the target. Commands were communicated to the missile using radio signals. It was initially powered by a solid fuel rocket motor, and carried a 250 lb (110 kg) warhead.
Later versions of the missile included upgrades such as a larger 1000 lb (450 kg) warhead, improved rocket motors, and improved guidance, and in one late version, the ability to carry a nuclear warhead.
The weapon was phased out of US service in the 1970s but was still used by other countries much later. Some militaries currently still use some as inert practice weapons.
Operators
- : United States Air Force and United States Navy
- : Argentine Air Force
- : Royal Australian Air Force
- : Royal Danish Air Force
- : Hellenic Air Force
- : Israel Defense Forces
- : Royal Norwegian Air Force
External links
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