The United States Navy

Penguin Anti-Ship Missile

Updated: 8 August 2003

Description: The AGM-119B Penguin is a helicopter-launched anti-ship missile developed for use on LAMPS III helicopters and NATO allies.

Features: The Penguin missile is a short-to-medium range inertially guided missile with infrared (IR) terminal homing. The missile flies an indirect flight path to target, and is operated in the "fire-and-forget" mode to allow multiple target prosecutions.

Background: The Penguin was developed by and for the Norwegian Navy. The original Penguin became operational on Norwegian fast attack boats in 1972.

Point of Contact:
Program Executive Office, Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation [PEO(W)]
Public Affairs Department
47123 Buse Road, Unit IPT
Bldg. 2272, Suite 245
Patuxent River, MD 20670-5440
(301) 757-5289

General Characteristics:

Primary Function: Helicopter launched anti-ship missile
Contractor: Kongsberg Vaapenfabrikk (Norway)
Power Plant: Solid propellant rocket motor and solid propellant booster
Length: 120.48 inches (3.06 meters)
Launch Weight: 847 pounds (385 kilograms)
Diameter: 11.2 inches (28.5 centimenters)
Wing Span: 39 inches (71.1 centimeters)
Range: 18 nautical miles (33.3 kilometers)
Speed: 1.2 Mach maximum
Guidance: Inertial and infrared terminal.
Warhead: 110 pounds (50 kg), semi armor piercing
Date Deployed: Fourth quarter 1993