History:
The Popeye air-to-surface missile began developing after the Yom Kippur War (1973) by the Israeli Air Force, under production by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in Israel and later under licence in USA by Lockheed Martin (AGM-142 “Have Nap” under US designation). It entered service in 1985 and its still being used to this day.
It was designed to destroy the growing air defense systems of Israel’s hostile neighbours (Syria and Egypt), by a plane launching the missile out of the SAM range. Also for its big warhead, it was also expected to hit underground facilities (penetrator variant), bridges and military bases.
Combat history:
- On 5 July 2013, Israel used the Popeye missile against an ammo deapot in a port in Latakia, Syria. Although CNN claimed the attack was carried out by an aerial airstrike, other sources, such as the London Sunday Times, claim it was perpetrated by the Israel’s Dolphin submarine (with the Popeye Turbo version with extended range).
- On 7 December 2014, two formations of israeli F-15I striked 2 targets in Syria, launching 4 Popeye missiles and only one of them being shot down by Syrian air defense.
- On 30 November 2016, “The pro-government Al-Masdar News website reported that the Israeli warplanes had fired Popeye missiles at Sabboura, 8km (5 miles) north-west of Damascus. (BBC. 2016.)”.
- On 19 December 2024, IAF’s F-15s equipped with Popeye and F-16s with Rampage missiles carried an airstrike against Houthi’s military targets in Yemen (Sana’a, Hodeidah, Ras Isa, other coast areas, and many smaller ports, such as Al-Salif).
Specifications:
- Lenght: 4.82 m
- Diameter: 533 mm
- Wingspan: 198 cm
- Weight: 1,360 kg
- Warhead: 340 kg blast fragmentation or 360 kg penetrating explosive (against bunkers)
- Seeker: TV or Imaging Infrared (IIR)
- Guidance: Man-in-the-loop, via two-way data-link pod
- Max. speed: Supersonic (no specific speed)
- Engine: Single-stage Solid-fuel rocket
- Range: 75 km
Israeli platforms:
- F-4E Kurnass/Kurnass 2000 (first launch platform 1980s - 1990s, only 1 Popeye)
- F-15I Ra’am (entered service 1998, max can carry 2 Popeyes)
- F-15C/D Baz (only tested, limited integration, can carry 2 Popeyes, but no combat used)
Sources
Popeye (missile) - Wikipedia
Israeli Air Force Strikes Yemen With Popeye And Rampage Standoff Missiles
Syria conflict: ‘Israeli jets’ strike outside Damascus - BBC News
https://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/31/world/meast/syria-civil-war
Popeye | Missile Threat
AGM-142 Have Nap / Popeye - Misil Aire-superficie
http://designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-142.html
Know The Best Of The Israeli Popeye Missile Details _ 2024
AGM-142 Raptor / Have Nap / Popeye - Smart Weapons
Blog de las Fuerzas de Defensa de la República Argentina: ASM: Popeye Lite (Have Lite)
FDRA - Fuerza Aérea: ASM: Popeye Lite (Have Lite)
POPEYE (AGM-142) air-to-surface missile | Weapons Parade POPEYE (AGM-142) asm missile.
https://www.aero-spezial-modellbauversand.de/media/products/0972653001262934697.pdf
AGM-142E Raptor / The RAAF’s New Standoff Weapon
AGM-142 Have Nap - en
https://www.deagel.com/Weapons/Popeye/a001070