Harpoon

Harpoon
A Harpoon missile on display at the USS Bowfin museum at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Type	Anti-ship missile
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1977–present
Production history
Manufacturer	Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
Unit cost	US$720,000
Specifications
Weight	1,144–1,385 lb (519–628 kg) depending on launch platform
Length	15.4 ft (4.7 m)
Diameter	1.1 ft (0.34 m)
Warhead	487 pounds (221 kg)
Engine	rocket engine
Wingspan	3 ft (0.91 m)
Operational range	58–196 mi (93–315 km) depending on launch platform
Flight altitude	Sea-skimming
Speed	537 miles per hour (864 km/h)(240 m/s)
Guidance system	Active radar
Launch platform	multi-platform: RGM-84A surface-launched AGM-84A air-launched UGM-84A submarine-launched

The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now 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 land-strike weapon, the Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM).

The regular Harpoon uses active radar homing, and a low-level, sea-skimming cruise trajectory to improve survivability and lethality. The missile's launch platforms include:

• Fixed-wing aircraft (the AGM-84, without the solid-fuel rocket booster)
• Surface ships (the RGM-84, fitted with a solid-fuel rocket booster that detaches when expended, to allow the missile's main turbojet to maintain flight)
• Submarines (the UGM-84, fitted with a solid-fuel rocket booster and encapsulated in a container to enable submerged launch through a torpedo tube);
• Coastal defense batteries, from which it would be fired with a solid-fuel rocket booster.

The missile is comparable to the French-made Exocet, the Swedish RBS-15, the Russian SS-N-25 Switchblade, the British Sea Eagle and the Chinese Yingji.

Development

Early Harpoons

The Harpoon was first introduced in 1977 after the sinking of the Israeli destroyer Eilat in 1967 by a Soviet-built Styx anti-ship missile from an Egyptian missile boat. Initially developed as an air-launched missile for the United States Navy P-3 Orion patrol planes, 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 been procured by many U.S. allies, especially by the NATO countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the United Kingdom, etc.

The Harpoon has also been adapted for use on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, in use by the USA, Singapore, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. It has been carried by several US Navy aircraft, including the P-3 Orion , the A-6 Intruder, the S-3 Viking, the AV-8B Harrier II, and the F/A-18 Hornet.

The Royal Australian Air Force can fire AGM-84 series missiles from its F-111C/G Aardvarks, F/A-18 Hornets, and P-3C Orion aircraft. The Royal Australian Navy deploys the Harpoon on major surface combatants and in the Collins-class submarines. The Spanish Air Force and the Chilean Navy are also AGM-84D customers and deploy the missiles on surface ships, F/A-18s, F-16s, 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.

The Canadian frigate HMCS Regina (FFH 334) fires a Harpoon anti-ship missile during a Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) sinking exercise.

The Canadian Forces Maritime Command (Canadian Navy) uses Harpoons on its Halifax-class frigates. The Royal New Zealand Air Force has the capability of carrying the Harpoon on its five P-3 patrol planes as its only means of striking surface ships.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force also operates five modified Fokker 50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) which are fitted with sonars and sensors to fire the Harpoon missile. The Pakistani Navy uses the Harpoon on its naval frigates and P-3C Orions. The Turkish Navy uses Harpoons on surface combatants and Type-209 submarines. The Turkish Air Force will operate the SLAM-ER.

Fifty-seven Harpoons were reportedly sold to the Republic of China Air Force (Taiwan). The Taiwanese navy also includes four guided-missile destroyers and several guided-missile frigates with the capability of carrying the Harpoon, include the ex-USN Knox class frigates and the locally-built derivative of the Oliver Hazard Perry class.

Harpoon Block ID

This version featured a larger fuel tank and re-attack capability, but was not produced in numbers because its intended mission (confrontation with the Soviet Union) was, after 1991, considered unlikely.

SLAM ATA (Block IG)

This version, under development, gives the SLAM a re-attack 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 lock on.^[1]

Harpoon Block II

Harpoon Block II test firing from USS Decatur.

In production at Boeing facilities in Saint Charles, Missouri, is the Harpoon Block II, intended to offer an expanded engagement envelope, enhanced resistance to electronic countermeasures and improved targeting. Specifically, the Harpoon was initially designed as an open-ocean weapon. The Block II missiles continue progress begun with Block IE, and the Block II missile 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.

Although initially tested from U.S. Navy ships, the decision was made to not procure Harpoon Block II for the U.S. Navy fleet. Boeing lists 28 foreign navies as Block II customers. (http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/missiles/harpoon/docs/HarpoonBlockIIBackgrounder.pdf)

Harpoon Block III

Harpoon Block III was intended to be an upgrade package to the existing USN Block 1C missiles and Command Launch Systems (CLS) for guided-missile cruisers, guided-missile destroyers, and the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet airplane. After experiencing an increase in the scope of required government ship integration, test and evaluation, and a delay in development of a data-link, the Harpoon Block III program was canceled by the U.S. Navy in April 2009. Cancellation of Block III however does not preclude the possibility of continued incremental upgrades to the Harpoon missile and launching suite in the future.

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 the USS Yorktown with no confirmed results and several others from A-6 Intruder aircraft that were said to have hit their targets.^[2][3] Initial reports claimed that the USS Yorktown scored hits on a patrol boat, but action reports indicated that the target may have been a false one and that no ships were hit by those missiles.^[4]

In 1988, Harpoon missiles were used to sink the Iranian frigate Sahand during Operation Praying Mantis. Another was fired at the Sina class missile boat Joshan, but failed to strike because the Fast Attack Craft (FAC) had already been mostly sunk by RIM-66 Standard missiles. An Iranian Harpoon was also fired at the guided missile cruiser USS Wainwright. The missile was successfully lured away by chaff.^[5]

In December 1988, a Harpoon launched by an F/A-18 Hornet fighter from the aircraft carrier USS Constellation^[6] killed one sailor when it struck the Jagvivek, a 250 ft (76 m) 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, but the Jagvivek strayed into the test range, and the Harpoon, loaded with an inert dummy warhead, locked onto it instead of its intended target.

In June 2009 it was reported by a U.S.-based newspaper, citing unnamed officials from the US administration and US Congress, that the U.S. government had accused Pakistan of illegally modifying older Harpoon missiles to strike land-based targets. Pakistani officials denied this and claimed the U.S. was referring to a new Pakistani-designed missile. Some international experts were also reported to be very sceptical of the accusations. Robert Hewson, editor of Jane's Air Launched Weapons, pointed out that the Harpoon is not suitable for the land-attack role due to deficiency in range. He also stated that Pakistan was already armed with more sophisticated missiles of Pakistani or Chinese design and, therefore, "beyond the need to reverse-engineer old U.S. kit." Hewson offered that the missile tested by Pakistan was part of an undertaking to develop conventionally armed missiles, capable of being air or surface launched, to counter its rival India's missile arsenal.^[7][8][9] It was later stated that Pakistan and the U.S. administration had reached some sort of agreement allowing U.S. officials to inspect Pakistan's inventory of Harpoon missiles,^[10][11] and the issue had been resolved.^[12]

General characteristics

Harpoon Block II test firing from USS Thorn.

• Primary function: Air-, surface-, or submarine-launched anti-surface (anti-ship) missile
• Contractor: The McDonnell Douglas Astronautic Company - East
• Power plant: Teledyne Teledyne J402 turbojet, 660 lb (300 kg)-force (2.9 kN) thrust, and a solid-propellant booster for surface and submarine launches
• Length:
  • Air launched: 3.8 metres (12 ft) 7 in)
  • Surface and submarine launched: 4.6 metres (15 ft)
• Weight:
  • Air launched: 519 kilograms (1,140 lb)
  • Submarine or ship launched from box or canister launcher: 628 kilograms (1,380 lb)
• Diameter: 340 millimetres (13 in)
• Wing span: 914 millimetres (36.0 in)
• Maximum altitude: 910 metres (3,000 ft) with booster fins and wings
• Range: Over-the-horizon (approx 50 nautical miles)
  • AGM-84D: 220 km (120 nmi)
  • RGM/UGM-84D: 140 km (75 nmi)
  • AGM-84E: 93 km (50 nmi)
  • AGM-84F: 315 km (170 nmi)
  • AGM-84H/K: 280 km (150 nmi)
• Speed: High subsonic, around 850 km/h (460 knots, 240 m/s, or 530 mph)
• Guidance: Sea-skimming cruise monitored by radar altimeter, active radar terminal homing
• Warhead: 221 kilograms (490 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)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Harpoon missile

• 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
• Boeing Harpoon Block III Press Release
• Boeing Harpoon Block II Backgrounder
• Royal Netherlands Navy launches Harpoons from new frigate HMS De Ruyter (Defense-Aerospace)
• Boeing F/A-18 fires AGM-84 Digital Military Art