AGM-80 Viper

The AGM-80 Viper was an air-to-surface missile developed by the Chrysler Corporation Missile Division in the 1960s for use by the United States Air Force. Based on the AGM-12 Bullpup, the program was cancelled early in trials.

AGM-80 Viper
Type	Air-to-surface missile
Place of origin	United States
Service history
Used by	United States Air Force
Production history
Manufacturer	Chrysler Corporation Missile Division
Specifications (XAGM-80A)
Warhead	Bomblet
Detonation mechanism	Radar altimeter
Guidance system	Inertial

History

Viper was designed as a "self-guided standoff munition" for use in the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses ("Iron Hand") role.[1] The Viper, based on the AGM-12C/E Bullpup missile, was fitted with an inertial guidance system,[2] and had a radar altimeter-based fuse to ensure an airburst of the weapon's bomblet payload.[1] It was developed in competition with the AGM-79 Blue Eye missile,[3] but was cancelled in the early 1970s, shortly after the start of flight tests of the prototype missiles,[2] designated XAGM-80A.[4]

References

Citations

1. Knacck 1978, p. 274
2. Parsch 2002
3. Committee on Armed Services 1968, p. 125.
4. Blake 1988, p. 959.

Bibliography

• Blake, Bernard. Jane's Weapon Systems, 1988-89. London: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-0855-0.
• Committee on Armed Services (1968). U.S. Tactical Air Power Program: Hearings Before the United States Senate Committee on Armed Services, Preparedness Investigating Subcommittee, Ninetieth Congress, Second Session, on May 17, 28, June 6, 1968. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. ASIN B000UD3LJO. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
• Knacck, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems, Volume 1: Post-World War II Fighters, 1945-1973. Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History. ASIN B000GLDM6M.
• Parsch, Andreas (23 January 2002). "Chrysler AGM-80 Viper". Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. Designation-Systems. Archived from the original on 2017-12-20. Retrieved 2017-12-20.