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]
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)
Warhead1000 lb (450 kg) MK 83 bomb

EngineAerojet MK 78 dual-thrust solid-fueled rocket
Wingspan1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
Operational
range
25 km (15.5 statute miles)
Maximum speed Max:1,100 km/h (680 mph)

It is composed of a Mark 83 bomb fitted with a Paveway guidance kit and two Mk 78 solid propellant rockets that fire upon launch. The rockets allow the munition 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 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.

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

References

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