Harpoon missile
The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, originally developed by McDonnell Douglas of the United States, with development and manufacturing now taken over by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. In 2004, Boeing delivered the 7000th Harpoon unit since the weapon's introduction in 1977. The missile system has also been further developed into a coastal strike version, the Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM).
The Harpoon uses active radar homing and low-level, sea-skimming cruise trajectory to improve survivability and effectiveness. The missile's launch platforms include:
- Airplanes (AGM-84, without the booster);
- Surface ships (RGM-84, fitted with a solid rocket launch booster that detaches when expended to allow the missile's integral turbojet to maintain flight);
- Submarines (UGM-84, fitted with a solid-rocket launch booster and encapsulated in a container to enable submerged launch through a torpedo tube);
- Coastal defense batteries.
The chief competitors of the Harpoon are the French Exocet and the Chinese Yingji.
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Versions and operators
Original Harpoon
The Harpoon was first introduced in 1977 after the sinking of the Israeli destroyer Eilat in 1967 by Soviet-built Styx anti-ship missiles. Initially developed as an air-launched missile for the United States Navy, the Harpoon has been adapted for use on Air Force B-52G bombers, which can carry from eight to 12 of the missiles. The Harpoon has also been adapted for use on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, in use by both the USA and the United Arab Emirates. The Royal Australian Air Force can fire AGM-84 series missiles from its F-111C/G Aardvark, F/A-18 Hornet and AP-3C Orion aircraft. The Royal Australian Navy deploys the Harpoon on major surface combatants and the Collins class submarine. The Spanish Air Force and Chilean Navy are another AGM-84D customer and can fire the missiles from F-16, ship`s and P-3 Orion aircraft. The British Royal Navy deploys the Harpoon on several types of surface ship and submarine, and the Royal Air Force uses it on the Nimrod MR2 maritime patrol aircraft.
Harpoon Block II
In production at Boeing facilities in Saint Charles, Missouri is the Harpoon Block II, intended to offer an expanded engagement envelope and advanced counter measures together with improved targeting.
The key improvements of the Harpoon Block II are obtained by incorporating the inertial measurement unit from the Joint Direct Attack Munition program, and the software, computer, Global Positioning System (GPS)/inertial navigation system and GPS antenna/receiver from the SLAM Expanded Response (SLAM-ER), an upgrade to the SLAM.
The first international customer for Harpoon Block II systems was the Royal Danish Navy, which ordered 50 upgrade kits in 1997; the first systems were delivered in 2002.
Operational history
Harpoon missiles were used to sink the Iranian frigate Sahand in 1988 during Operation Praying Mantis.
General characteristics
- Primary function: Air, surface or submarine launched anti-surface (anti-ship) missile
- Contractor: Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
- Power plant: Teledyne J402 turbojet, 660 lbf (2.9 kN) thrust, and solid propellant booster for surface and submarine launch
- Length:
- Air launched: 3.8 m (12 ft 7 in)
- Surface and submarine launched: 4.6 m (15 ft)
- Weight:
- Air launched: 519 kg (1,160 lb)
- Submarine or ship launched from box or canister launcher: 628 kg (1,523 lb)
- Diameter: 340 mm (13.5 in)
- Wing span: 910 mm (3 ft) with booster fins and wings
- Range: Over-the-horizon
- AGM-84D - 220 km (120 nm)
- RGM/UGM-84D - 140 km (75 nm)
- AGM-84E - 93 km (50 nm)
- AGM-84F - 315 km (170 nm)
- AGM-84H/K- 280 km (150 nm)
- Speed: High subsonic, around 850 km/h (460 knots, 240 m/s, 530 mph)
- Guidance: Sea-skimming cruise monitored by radar altimeter, active radar terminal homing
- Warhead: 221 kg (488 lb), penetration high-explosive blast
- Unit cost: US$720,000
- Date deployed:
Note
The Harpoon is not designed to attack land targets. However, this has not prevented it being used to strike land targets in popular culture, such as the Harpoon computer game, or on television in the JAG episode "Tiger, Tiger" and the Doctor Who episode "World War Three".
See also
External links
- Official Harpoon information – Boeing Integrated Defense System website
- Detailed information of all Harpoon versions and upgrades – From Encyclopedia Astronautica
- AGM-84 variants
Categories
Anti-ship missiles of the United States | Cold War anti-ship missiles of the United States | Modern missiles of the United States