AGM-142

AGM-142 Have Nap

AGM-142 or Popeye is the name of a guided weapon developed in Israel .

At the end of the 1980s, the Israeli company Rafael Armament Development Authority began developing an air-to-surface missile with a modular design, which was named Popeye . This was equipped with a TV seeker head and had a two-way communication connection. This two-way communication makes it possible to correct the flight path even after the rocket has been launched. Production for the Israel Defense Forces began in 1989.

AGM-142 Have Nap

AGM-142 at a military fair

As early as 1988, the US Air Force began to be interested in the Popeye, since no nuclear missiles were needed for the B-52 . The Air Force named the new air-to-surface missile AGM-142 Raptor - but there was a problem with the new name, because the Lockheed Martin F-22 , developed from 1991 onwards , already bore the name Raptor. So the Air Force was forced to look for a new name. This was called Have Nap and so the AGM-142 could finally be put into service in 1992. The only aircraft in the US Air Force inventory that can use the AGM-142 is the B-52H .

The only difference between the AGM-142B and the original model is a modified TV seeker head, which can now also evaluate infrared signals. Another variant is the AGM-142C. This was only equipped with a now 350 kg warhead. The AGM-142D is a mixture of the B and C variant, which uses the TV / IR seeker head and the heavy warhead.

In 1996, the RAAF announced that it was interested in the AGM-142; The General Dynamics F-111 was to serve as the carrier aircraft . The negotiations dragged on until December 14, 1998 (contract signature). The RAAF was supplied with the AGM-142E, which is equipped with an infrared seeker head with a zoom function (Z seeker head) and the 350 kg warhead.

The AGM-142F is a variant that was delivered to Israel. It has a modified wing design and is equipped with a Z seeker head and the warhead of the C / D variant. After South Korea , the AGM-142G was delivered. The warhead of the C / D variants was used in it and the software was adapted so that it can also be used by the McDonnell F-4 E. A CCD seeker head was also installed in her . Another variant for South Korea is the AGM-142H, which is an AGM-142G with a Z-seeker head. Israel delivered 50 Popeye to Turkey in 1999, which they also use for their F-4 Phantom.

In total, over 500 AGM-142 A to D have been delivered to the USAF to date, and despite the start of further development of the Popeye / AGM-142, consideration is being given to replacing it with the AGM-158 JASSM .

Popeye II

Is the further development of the Popeye / AGM-142, the Popeye II is often referred to as Have Lite. The Popeye II was developed so that it can also be used by small aircraft. It is lighter and smaller than the AGM-142, with it various ground and sea targets can be fought over a long range. In 2002 the Have Lite was tested for the first time on a USAF F-16 .

The Popeye II is sometimes referred to as the AGM-142B, but this is incorrect.

Popeye Turbo

The Popeye Turbo variant was developed by Israel in order to be able to use it from submarines of the Dolphin class . The launch takes place from a torpedo tube, with a solid rocket booster propelling the cruise missile out of the water. The missile is then propelled by a turbojet engine. This more complex drive concept enables greater ranges. The official range is given as 200 to 350 km, in unofficial tests of an extended variant, however, over 1500 km were achieved. The Popeye turbo cruise missile can carry nuclear warheads. This means that the most important locations in the Iranian nuclear program are within reach of Israeli nuclear weapons . Either by means of Popeye turbos, which are launched from the eastern Mediterranean from Dolphin-class submarines, or from land or air-based carrier systems from central Israel.

Technical specifications

Parameter	Popeye	Popeye II / Have Lite	Popeye Turbo
Manufacturer	PGSUS ( Rafael / Lockheed Martin )	PGSUS ( Rafael / Lockheed Martin )	Rafael
length	4830 mm	4240 mm	about 5000 mm
Hull diameter	533 mm	533 mm	650 mm
Weight	1360 kg	1135 kg	k. A.
Steering / seeker head	TV and / or infrared	TV or infrared	k. A.
Airspeed	Do 1+	k. A.	k. A.
drive	Solid rocket engine	Solid rocket engine	Turbojet
Operational range	80 km	92 km	200 to 350 km (1500 km)
Warhead	340 kg (AGM-142A / B), 350 kg (AGM-142C / D)	340 kg (AGM-142A / B), 350 kg (AGM-142C / D)	at least 200 kg
Purchase price per unit	$ 1.54 million	k. A.	k. A.
Carrier system	B-52H , F-111 , F-4	F-16 , Kfir , Mirage 2000	Dolphin class submarine, u. U. B-52H , F-16

Countries of operation

•  Australia
•  Israel (Popeye Turbo Israel only)
•  South Korea
•  Turkey
•  United States

Web links

Commons : AGM-142  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• www.designation-systems.net
• www.globalsecurity.org
• Popeye II ( Memento from October 23, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
• Popeye Turbo at www.fas.org

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Israel deploys nuclear arms in submarines. In: The Guardian , October 12, 2003 ( online )
2. ↑ fas.org ( online )