AGM-123 Skipper II

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.

AGM-123 Skipper II
TypeRocket assisted, low-level, laser-guided bomb
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service1985-1990s[1]
Used byUnited States Navy, United States Marine Corps
Production history
ManufacturerEmerson 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
EngineAerojet 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

Design

The AGM-123 is composed out of a Mk 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]

  • An AGM-123A Skipper II low-level laser-guided missile mounted on the wing pylon of a Vought A-7
    An AGM-123A Skipper II low-level laser-guided missile mounted on the wing pylon of a Vought A-7
  • A U.S. Navy Grumman A-6E Intruder as its crew monitors the flight of two AGM-123A low-level, laser-guided missiles
    A U.S. Navy Grumman A-6E Intruder as its crew monitors the flight of two AGM-123A low-level, laser-guided missiles

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