New Zealand Launches Penguin Missile for the First Time

A Royal New Zealand Navy helicopter has successfully launched a Penguin anti-ship guided missile for the first time since its acquisition in 2013.

The Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite maritime helicopter executed the launch of the Kongsberg-manufactured missile during training exercises last week, subsequently returning to the HMNZS Te Kaha, an Anzac-class frigate.

This helicopter-frigate combination will be deployed with the Combined Task Force 150 in the Arabian Sea.

With its primary role focused on maritime patrols, the Seasprite will engage in proactive identification and surveillance of potentially suspicious vessels during the mission.

Furthermore, it will provide force protection as the frigate undertakes operations aimed at intercepting illegal narcotics and weapons trafficked by terrorists and criminal organizations.

The Penguin Missile

In 2013, the New Zealand Defence Force procured an undisclosed quantity of Penguin Mk2 Mod 7 anti-ship missiles from Kongsberg to replace its AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles.

The first missile was launched over a decade later due to the necessity of a re-motoring program, which involved upgrades to the missile’s rocket motor, expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024.

The inaugural launch took place in February 2025.

This anti-ship missile, powered by a solid rocket engine, boasts an operational range exceeding 34 kilometers (21 miles) and is equipped with a 120-kilogram (264 pounds) warhead featuring a delay fuze designed to detonate upon impact within the target.