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
Type	Rocket assisted, low-level, laser-guided bomb
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1985-1990s[1]
Used by	United States Navy, United States Marine Corps
Production history
Manufacturer	Emerson Electric
Specifications
Mass	582 kg (1,283 lb)
Length	4.3 m (14 ft 1.2 in)
Diameter	0.5 m (1 ft 7.6 in)
Wingspan	1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
Warhead	1000 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

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]

Gallery

• 
  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

See also

Armement Air-Sol Modulaire