AGM-119B Penguin Anti-Ship
Missile
GlobalSecurity.org
The Penguin is a helicopter launched anti-ship missile developed
for use on Lamps III helicopters and NATO allies. Penguin is the
only operational Navy helicopter-launched missile in the Navy's
weapon inventory. It provides Navy surface combatants with a
defense against surface threats armed with antiship missiles.
The PENGUIN missile is a short-to-medium range inertially guided
missile with infrared (IR) terminal homing. The missile consists of
a seeker, navigation and control section, warhead,rocket motor,
four folding wings and four canards. It is capable of gravity drop
launches at low speeds and altitudes. Ships and surfaced submarines
are the missiles primary targets. A principal operational advantage
of Penguin is its relatively long operational range, which permits
a helicopter armed with Penguin to remain outside the launch
envelopes of potential targets. The Penguin missile has an indirect
flight path to target. It is also operated in "fire-and-forget"
mode to allow multiple target aqusition. The Penguin is fired from
a launcher or a stage weighing approximately 1100 pounds (500
kilograms).
The Penguin is a uniquely capable weapon against small combatants
and surfaced submarines in the littoral environment. The IR seeker
head is effective against a wide range of targets and its profile
is hard to defend against. It is a short-to-medium range inertially
guided missile and is capable of gravity drop launches at low
speeds and altitudes. A "fire-and-forget" missile, the Penguin has
a 360 degree arc, autonomous search, acquisition and track during
terminal phase, discriminates between target decoys and is
resistant to IR countermeasures.
The PENGUIN weapon system consist of the AGM-119B guided missile,
Missile Launcher Assembly (MLA), and Missile Control System (MCS).
The MLA contains the MCS and attaches to the pylons of the SH-60B
LAMPS MKIII Helicopter and provides mechanical attachment points
for missile launch/release system a (BRU-14 bomb rack with two
AERO-1A adapters). The MLA, with BRU-14 attached, carries and
launches the PENGUIN on command. The MCS is an integral part of the
MLA. The MCS is located in the MLA and provides the interface
between the helicopter and the missile for control, transfer of
data, and electrical power during captive flight. The MCS contains
the alignment unit,missile power unit, alignment power unit,
umbilical release unit, and umbilical and interconnecting
cables.
Penguin is a fully digitized missile with canard control. The high
resolution, passive infrared seeker provides a high degree of
discrimination and target selection, and ensures efficient
operation in confined, as well as open waters. The high accuracy,
inertial navigation system ensures the missile's capability of
target detection, and provides the flexibility of mid-course
trajectory via pilot-designated way-point.
An efficient 120 kg warhead, with an impact point close to the
target's waterline, will inflict serious damage to medium size
surface combatants or other targets. The missile is powered by a
solid propellant two stage rocket motor. The Penguin can be adapted
to helicopters, fixed wing patrol aircraft as well as fighter
aircraft. The missile system is software integrated into the
aircraft avionic system. with the use of existing equipment for
suspension, control and operation.
The PENGUIN missile is a helicopter launched version of the
Norwegian MK 2 MOD 3 missile which has been modified and designated
as an MK 2 MOD 7. The Penguin was developed by and for the
Norwegian Navy. The Penguin missiles are designed and manufactured
by Norsk Forsvarsteknologi (NFT) A/S located in Kongsberg, Norway.
The Penguin anti-ship missile was conceived in the early 1960's as
a ship-borne, anti-invasion defence system. Penguin was the first
fire-and-forget anti-ship missile system to be developed in the
Western world. Penguin MKI became operational with the Norwegian
and Turkish navies in 1972. The MK2 entered service in 1980 with
the Norwegian, Hellenic and Swedish navies. Since then, continuous
development programs have adapted the concept to the technical
evolution of surface warfare.
The air-launched penguin MK3 version (AGM-119A) was chosen as the
standard anti-ship missile for the F-16 Fighting Falcons of the
Royal Norwegian Air Force. and has completed a highly successful
Foreign Weapon Evaluation Program conducted by the US Air Force.
Navy testing of Penguin has been completed, and it achieved IOC in
the fourth quarter of FY 1993. The successful first fleet firing of
an AGM-119 Penguin anti-ship missile by the HSL-51/USS HEWITT
(DD-966) team on June 25, 1994, completed the transition of the
SH-60B "Seahawk" from an anti-ship surveillance and targeting
(ASST) platform to an anti-surface (ASUW) weapon system. The
initial operating capability (IOC) was completed at the Pacific
Missile Range Facility (PMRF) Barking Sands, Hawaii during RIMPAC
'94 with the INDEPENDENCE Battle Group. The direct hit by the
telemetry round against the YOG-79 target hulk resulted in the
ninth successful Penguin launch by the U.S. Navy. The first eight
were completed in 1990 during Techeval/Opeval by Rotary Wing Test
Directorate and VX-1. The Navy will acquire approximately 100 Mod 3
versions. The Penguin MK2 MOD7 (AGM-119B) with folding wings is
adapted to the US Navy LAMPS Mk III, SH-60B helicopters. All Block
I modified SH-60Bs will be capable of employing Penguin, and
eventually all SH-60Bs operating from US Navy FFG-7 and DD-963
Class Ships.
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1997
contained a provision that authorized the Navy to enter into a
contract for multiyear procurement of not more than 106 Penguin
missiles and limited the amount that could be expended for such
procurement to $84.8 million. This provision was based on the
existing shortfall in Penguin missile inventory and the premise
that the Navy would be able to negotiate a very favorable price at
around 55 percent of the average unit procurement cost for previous
lots. Congress subsequently appropriated $7.0 million to procure
Penguin missiles in fiscal year 1997 and $7.5 million in fiscal
year 1998.
