Missile AGM-119 Penguin
Summary
| Category | Anti-Ship Missile |
| Sub-type | Anti-ship missile |
| Origin country | 🇳🇴 Norway 🇺🇸 United States |
| Manufacturer | Northrop-Grumman / Kongsberg |
Technical specifications
| AGM-119 Penguin | |
|---|---|
| Warhead | High Explosive |
| Warhead Weight | 113 kg |
| Diameter | 280 mm (11.0 in) |
| Span | 1400 mm (55.1 in) |
| Length | 2960 mm (116.5 in) |
| Weight | 340 kg (750 lb) |
| Range | 60 km (37 mi) |
Description
The AGM-119 Penguin is an anti-ship missile developed by Norway in the 1970s. It was designed as a compact, lightweight missile that could be carried by ships, aircraft, and helicopters for defense against sea-skimming anti-ship missiles and to engage enemy ships.
The Penguin entered service with the Norwegian navy in the early 1970s equipped on ships and helicopters. It uses infrared homing and has a range of around 25 miles when air launched. The small Penguin only weights about 400 pounds but carries a 150 pound warhead capable of inflicting significant damage.
A key feature of the Penguin is its sea-skimming flight profile, staying low above the waves to avoid radar detection. It can perform evasive maneuvers in the terminal phase making it difficult for targets to defend against. The Penguin was also designed to require little maintenance and be stored for long periods.
The Penguin was operated by Norway, Denmark, Germany, Greece, and other navies. An updated model called Penguin Mk2 entered service in the early 1990s. Though limited in range, the Penguin's simplicity, accuracy, and sea-skimming capabilities made it an effective coastal defense anti-ship missile for decades.