The PenguinMk.1 was originally designed to repel invasions from the sea. In this image we see an assembly similar to the one installed in ships but installed on land. In this way, it could be considered as a coastal defense battery. The missile is very accurate thanks to its high resolution, passive IR seeker and is practically immune to ECMs, it is also able to discriminate between vessels and decoys having a high probability of hit the target.In 1982, an improved version appeared, adapted to be launched from helicopters and designated as Penguin Mk.2 or AGM-119 according to US Navy designation. The latest version is called Penguin Mk.2 mod.7 and is qualified to be used by SH-60B LAMPS III, SH-70 Seahawk and SH-2 Suoer Seasprite helicopters.The Penguin Mk.2 mod.7 is designed to attack medium-sized ships such as patrol vessels, corvettes and frigates. Its warhead is derived from the Bullpup missile and it is a semi-armor piercing type, about 113 kg in weight and incorporates a delayed fuze that explodes once inside the ship’s hull to cause further damage.The Penguin Mk.2 mod.7 and Mk.3 missiles belongs to the “fire and forget” category and the launcher does not have to be aiming directly at the target. The missiles can be fired one at a time or in salvo mode.The missile, once in flight, is capable of performing erratic maneuvers in its final stage to hinder its detection, and is designed to hit the target just above the waterline, with a penetration angle that causes greater damage.In the Penguin missile it ispossible to select the most appropriate route to the target, for example avoiding ground obstacles such as islets. In addition, it is possible to program the missile to execute trajectory changes during the flight, and this allows a safe firing under cover from the enemy.The Penguin Mk.3 appeared in 1987 and is intended to be used by aircrafts. For this task, the missile was fitted to be installed in the Bullpup missile support and a BaE Sperry canard system was used to improve its maneuverability in flight. The launcher and the motor unit is the work of Saab-Scania and the tests were conducted by a Norwegian F-104G fighter, although the missile’s final destination was the Norwegian Air Force’s F-16 fighterbombers. The Mk.3 variant is available with passive IR and passive radar seeker guidance.
