AGM-123 Skipper II

AGM-123 Skipper II
Type	Rocket assisted, low-level, laser-guided bomb
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1985-1990s[1]
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)
Warhead	1000 lb (450 kg) MK 83 bomb
Engine	Aerojet MK 78 dual-thrust solid-fueled rocket
Wingspan	1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
Operational range	25 km (15.5 statute miles)
Maximum speed	Max:1,100 km/h (680 mph)

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.

It is composed of a Mark 83 bomb fitted with a Paveway guidance kit and one Mk 78 solid propellant rocket that fire upon launch. The rocket 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.^{[citation needed]}

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

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to AGM-123 Skipper II.

• Designation systems - Emerson Electric AGM-123 Skipper II
• Federation of American Scientists - AGM-123 Skipper II