PENGUIN

In the early 1960s, the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment (NDRE) and Kongsberg Väpenfabrikk company, began to develop an anti-ship missile with the unique characteristic that missile was not radar-guided but had an infrared-homing seeker head. This device allows the missile not to be detected except by the target’s own systems. This ability makes it very effective and difficult to shot down by the enemy defenses. West Germany and the U.S. provided financial support to the project and in 1972 the Penguin Mk.1 was presented. It was the first western anti-ship missile with an IR seeker and was intended to be launched from ships. In 1982 the Penguin Mk.2 appeared, designed to be launched from helicopters and ships. Finally, in 1987 the last variant to date appeared, the Penguin Mk.3, designed to be launched from fixed-wing aircraft.

PENGUIN gallery and more info