AGM-123 Skipper II

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AGM-123 Skipper II
AGM-123 Skipper II.jpg
TypeRocket assisted, low-level, laser-guided bomb
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1985-1990s [1]
Used by United States Navy, United States Marine Corps
Production history
Manufacturer Emerson Electric
Specifications
Mass582 kg (1,283 lb)
Length4.3 m (14 ft 1.2 in)
Diameter0.5 m (1 ft 7.6 in)
Wingspan1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
Warhead1000 lb (450 kg) Mk 83 bomb
Detonation
mechanism
Impact-fuse

Engine Aerojet Mk 78 dual-thrust solid-fueled rocket
Operational
range
25 km (15.5 statute miles)
Maximum speed 1,100 km/h (680 mph)
Guidance
system
laser-guidance

AGM-123 Skipper II is a short-range laser-guided missile developed by the United States Navy. The Skipper was intended as an anti-ship weapon, capable of disabling the largest vessels with a 1,000-lb (450-kg) impact-fuzed warhead.

Contents

Design

The AGM-123 is composed out of a 1,000 lb (454 kg) Mark 83 low-drag general purpose bomb fitted with a Paveway guidance kit and one Aerojet Mk 78 solid-propellant rocket that fires upon launch. The rocket allows the AGM-123 to be dropped farther away from the target than could free-fall bombs, which helps protect the delivery aircraft from surface-to-air-missiles and anti-aircraft artillery near the target.

The AGM-123 was developed at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center and was carried by the A-6E Intruder, A-7 Corsair II, and F/A-18.

Operational history

Four Skipper missiles launched by A-6E Intruders contributed to sinking the Iranian frigate Sahand during Operation Praying Mantis on April 18, 1988. [2]

Skipper missiles were also fired in Operation Desert Storm against Iraqi surface vessels by A-6s and U.S. Marine aircraft. [2]

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References

  1. "Emerson Electric AGM-123 Skipper II". www.designation-systems.net.
  2. 1 2 "Islamic Republic News Agency" (in Persian). Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2017.