Penguin: The 1972 Missile That Invented Passive Infrared Homing

The Penguin missile holds a significant place in weapons history: it was the world’s first anti-ship missile guided by a passive infrared seeker — a technology that Kongsberg would later refine into NSM and JSM. First operational in 1972 with the Royal Norwegian Navy, the Penguin is still flying today in its Mk3 variant aboard US Navy SH-60B helicopters as the AGM-119B.

Technical Specifications

Operator Nations

Penguin vs ATMACA: Legacy vs New Generation

FAQ

Is Turkey replacing Penguin with ATMACA?
Turkey operates Penguin Mk2 Mod 7 and is expected to phase it out as ATMACA reaches full operational capability. No official decommissioning timeline has been published.

Sources

1. Kongsberg — Penguin missile history
2. US Navy — AGM-119B Penguin Mk3 documentation
3. Jane’s Naval Weapon Systems
4. SIPRI — Turkey Penguin acquisition records

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