The first operational Penguin Mk 2 Mod 7 Anti-Ship Missiles acquired under Project Sea 1414 were delivered to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) today at a ceremony at Defence Establishment Orchard Hills, NSW.
The Penguin Missile will be fitted to the RAN's Super Seasprite helicopters, and will act as a significant offensive weapon for the ANZAC Class of Ships, able to counter a range of threats.
Delivery of the missiles is expected to be completed by September 2003.
Commander Australian Naval Aviation Group, Commodore Keith Eames CSC said the Navy was looking forward to having the capability provided by the Penguin Mk 2 Mod 7 Missile.
"It will be effective and potent across all the areas of RAN operations. The fact that we can target the missile, and 'fire and forget', as the jargon goes, from a range in excess of 30 kilometres makes it extremely valuable and desirable to our aircrew.
"Weapons with the degree of sophistication in the Penguin, able to be launched from a low speed launch vehicle such as a helicopter, with the range and hitting power that this missile has, are few and far between.
"Coupled with performance that is optimised for a countermeasure-rich littoral environment, it is clear that the RAN has acquired an outstanding new capability."
Mr Andrew Wood, Director General Rotary Wing Aviation, said the Penguin Missile Project was acknowledged as a most successful project due to its adherence to schedule and cost, as well as delivery of a capability that meets the agreed specification.
"The Penguin missile project has achieved all its objectives, and more. The real success of this project is the relationships that have developed between Defence, the manufacturer of the missile Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace (KDA) of Norway, and their Australian industry partners.
"Australian sub-contractors have been engaged by KDA to provide component manufacturing support, and are now the sole worldwide source for their particular components.
"Not since the de-commissioning of the aircraft carrier Melbourne in 1982 has Naval Aviation had such a potent anti-ship capability. The Penguin missile will fill a void in the family of RAN weapon systems of a weapon that is effective in the tough littoral environment," said Commodore Eames.
"The Penguin Missile has been successfully employed by countries throughout the world for the last 20 years, and the ADF is acquiring the latest version of the missile."
