Penguin missile

Encyclopedia : P : PE : PEN : Penguin missile

The Penguin anti-ship missile (U.S. designation AGM-119), made by Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA)Early development of the Penguin was done by the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (NDRE; Norw. FFI) during the 1960s. Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace (KDA) was formerly a part of Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk (KV) (1814–1986) and Norsk Forsvarsteknologi (NFT) (1987–1994), and is now part of Kongsberg Gruppen (KOG). of Norway from the early 1970s and continually upgraded since, is a passive-IR seeker based short-to-medium range naval cruise missile. It was the first AShM of the western world with an IR seeker (contrary to the commonly used active radar technology).

The Penguin can be fired singly or in coordinated-arrival salvoes. Propelled by a solid rocket engine, it performs random weaving maneuvres at target approach and hits the target close to the waterline. Of the western inventory of such missiles, it is the only variant that performs a terminal bunt and weave manoeuvre. The modified 120 kg Bullpup warhead detonates inside the target (ship) by using a delay fuse.

In its various versions, the Penguin can be launched from a number of different weapons platforms:

Surface vessels: PT boats—its initial application—as well as larger ships
Fighter aircraft: certified for F-16
Helicopters (certified for the following aircraft):
*Bell 412 EP
*Kaman SH-2 Seasprite
*Sikorsky S-70 series (SH-60 Seahawk, UH-60 Black Hawk)
*Westland Super Lynx

KDA's successor to the Penguin will be the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), scheduled to be offered from 2007 onwards. NSM will feature an imaging IR-seeker, GPS navigation, a turbojet sustainer engine (for much longer ranges: 150+ km), and significantly more computer performance and digital signal processing power.

Operators

: In service with both the Royal Norwegian Navy and Air Force
: In service with the Republic of Korea Navy
: In service with the United States NavyThe Penguin is the only non-US-made/developed missile in the entire US military arsenal.

as the AGM-119

: In service with the Hellenic Navy
: In service with the Swedish Navy
: In service with the Turkish Navy
: Planned for service with the Royal Australian Navy

Notes

External links

[Official Penguin webpage (KDA)]
[Missile.index search] – Choose* Development-Country: "Norway", then pick "Penguin" from the results list
(* direct linking to subpages is not possible at this website)

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