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 7,000th ''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'', the Swedish ''
RBS15'', the Russian ''
SS-N-25 Switchblade'' and the Chinese ''
Yingji''.
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 from an Egyptian missile boats . Initially developed as an air-launched missile for the
United States Navy, the ''Harpoon'' has been adapted for use on Air Force
B-52H 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 the USA, Singapore and the
United Arab Emirates. The
Republic of Singapore Air Force also operates 5 modified Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) which are fitted with sonars and sensors to fire the Harpoon missile. 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/A-18,
F-16, ships 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 and
Typhoon strike fighter. The
Pakistan Navy uses the Harpoon on its
naval frigates and P-3C Orions.
Harpoon Block ID
This version featured a larger fuel tank and reattack capability, but was not produced in numbers because its intended mission (confrontation between the Soviet Union) was, after 1991, considered unlikely.
Harpoon Block IE
The Block IE version uses an optical seeker head borrowed from the
AGM-62 Walleye, a
GPS receiver and the
data link from the
AGM-65 Maverick missile. It is an intermediate range, all-weather weapon which can attack ships in port, which are close together, or a land target. The reuse of electronics and
sensors already in service in other weapons reduced its development cost.
[1][2]
SLAM ATA (Block IG)
This version, under development, gives the SLAM a reattack capability as well as an image comparison capability similar to the Tomahawk cruise missile; that is, the weapon can compare the target scene in front of it with an
image stored in its on-board
computer during terminal phase target acquisition and lockon.
[2]
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. Specifically, the Harpoon was initially designed as an open-ocean weapon; Block II continues progress begun with Block IE, and provides the Harpoon with a littoral water attack capability.
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
In 1981 and 1982 there were two
accidental launches of harpoon missiles from US and Danish surface ships.
In 1986, the
United States Navy sank at least two Libyan patrol boats in the
Gulf of Sidra. Two harpoon missiles were launched from
USS Yorktown (CG-48) with no confirmed result and several others from
A-6 Intruder aircraft that were said to have hit their targets.
[4][5] Initial reports claimed ''Yorktown'' scored hits on a patrol boat, but after action reports indicated that the target may have been a false one and that no ships were hit by those missiles.
[6]
In 1988, Harpoon missiles were used to sink the
Iranian frigate Sahand during
Operation Praying Mantis. Another was fired at the FAC
Joshan, but failed to strike because the FAC had already been largely sunk by
RIM-66 Standard missiles. An Iranian Harpoon was also fired, at the USS Wainwright. The missile passed down the side of the ship but apparently failed to detect and engage the ship.
In December 1988, a harpoon launched by a
F/A-18 Hornet killed one sailor when it struck the ''Jagvivek'', a 250 ft long
Indian merchant ship, during an exercise at the
Pacific Missile Range near
Kauai,
Hawaii. A
Notice to Mariners had been issued warning of the danger and when ''Jagvivek'' strayed in the test range the unarmed Harpoon, loaded with an inert warhead, locked onto it instead of its intended target. The F/A-18 was attached to the
USS Constellation (CV-64).
[7]
57 Harpoons were sold to the
Republic of China Air Force.
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:
★
★ Ship launched (RGM-84A):
1977
★
★ Air launched (AGM-84A):
1979
★
★ Submarine launched (UGM-84A):
1981
★
★ SLAM (AGM-84E):
1990
★
★ SLAM-ER (AGM-84H):
1998 (delivery);
2000 (initial operational capability (IOC))
★
★ SLAM-ER ATA (AGM-84K):
2002 (IOC)
See also
★
Strategic Air Command
★
C-802
References
1. FAS Harpoon article
2. Global Security Harpoon article
3. Global Security Harpoon article
4. Time (magazine). High-Tech Firepower. April 7, 1986.
5. Ronald Reagan. Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate on the Gulf of Sidra Incident. March 26, 1986.
6. The New York Times. PENTAGON REVISES LIBYAN SHIP TOLL. March 27, 1986.
7. The New York Times / AP. U.S. Rocket Hits Indian Ship Accidentally, Killing Crewman. December 13, 1988.
External links
★
Official Harpoon information – Boeing Integrated Defense System website
★
Detailed information of all Harpoon versions and upgrades – From Encyclopedia Astronautica
★
AGM-84 variants
★
McDonnell-Douglas AGM-84A Harpoon and AGM-84E SLAM
★
FAS Harpoon article
★
Global Security Harpoon article
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