The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by the McDonnell Douglas Corporation of the United States of America, with manufacturing now taken over by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, the new owner of its factory in Missouri. 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). Image File history File links Harpoon_asm_bowfin_museum. ... Image:RBS-15 missile launch. ... USD redirects here. ... Turbojets are the simplest and oldest kind of general purpose jet engines. ... The distance AB is the wing span of this Aer Lingus Airbus A320. ... A B61 nuclear bomb in various stages of assembly; the nuclear warhead is the bullet-shaped silver cannister in the middle-left of the photograph. ... Over-The-Horizon radar (OTHR) is a design concept for radar system to overcome the problem that radio waves (a form of light) travel in a straight line, making over the horizon detection difficult. ... Image:RBS-15 missile launch. ... DC-10, retired from American Airlines fleet at gate McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. ... Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (Boeing IDS), based in St. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... The Standoff Land Attack Missile or SLAM is an over-the-horizon, all-weather cruise missile which grew out of the Navys Harpoon anti-ship missile in the 1970s. ...

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: Active radar homing is a type of missile guidance where a guided missile contains a radar transceiver and the electronics necessary for it to find and track its target autonomously. ...

• Fixed-wing aircraft (the AGM-84, made without the solid-fueled booster)
• Surface ships (the RGM-84, fitted with a solid-fueled rocket booster that detaches when expended, to allow the missile's main turbojet to maintain flight)
• Submarines (the 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, from which it would be fired with a solid-fueled booster.

The missiles somewhat comparable to the Harpoon are the French-made Exocet, the Swedish RBS15, the Russian SS-N-25 Switchblade and the Chinese Yingji. Airplane and Aeroplane redirect here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Turbojets are the simplest and oldest kind of general purpose jet engines. ... For other uses, see Submarine (disambiguation). ... The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, and airplanes. ... The RBS 15 (Robot System 15) is a long-range fire-and-forget surface-to-surface and air-to-surface anti-ship missile. ... Kh-35 is Russian subsonic anti-ship missile. ... The Yingji-82 or YJ-82 (Chinese: 鹰击-82, literally Eagle Strike; NATO reporting name: CSS-N-8 Saccade) is a Chinese anti-ship missile first unveiled in 1989 by the China Haiying Electro-Mechanical Technology Academy (CHETA), also known as the Third Academy. ...

The Original Harpoon

The Harpoon was first introduced in 1977 after the sinking of the Israeli destroyer Eilat in 1967 by a Soviet-built Styx anti-ship missiles from an Egyptian missile boat. For other ships with the same name, see HMS Zealous. ... The P-15 Termit (Russian: ; English: ) was a type of missile developed by the Soviet Unions Raduga design bureau in the 1950s. ...

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. USN redirects here. ... The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a maritime patrol aircraft of numerous militaries around the world, used primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare. ... “B-52” redirects here. ...

The following discussion of user countries and weapons platforms is quite incomplete, and it should not be considered as complete. The Harpoon has been procured by many U.S. Allies, especially by the NATO countries, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, etc.

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. It has been carried by several US Navy aircraft, including the P-3, the A-6 Intruder, the S-3 Viking, and the F/A-18 Hornet. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American multirole jet fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force. ... The A-6 Intruder is a twin-engine, mid-wing attack aircraft built by Grumman Aerospace. ... An S-3B Viking launches from the catapult aboard USS Abraham Lincoln The Lockheed S-3 Viking is a United States Navy jet aircraft used to hunt and destroy enemy submarines and provide surveillance of surface shipping. ... The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a modern all-weather carrier-capable strike fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. ...

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 another AGM-84D customer and can fire the missiles from F/A-18, F-16, surface ships, and the 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 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the Air Force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... The General Dynamics F-111 is a medium-range strategic bomber, reconnaissance, and tactical strike aircraft designed in the 1960s. ... The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a modern all-weather carrier-capable strike fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. ... The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a patrol aircraft of the United States military used primarily for anti-submarine warfare. ... The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... The Collins class submarines are the newest class of Australian submarines, built in Australia for the Royal Australian Navy. ... The Spanish Air Force (Spanish: Ejército del Aire; literally, Army of the Air) is the air force of Spain. ... The Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile) is the naval force of Chile. ... The F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather fighter and attack aircraft. ... The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern multi-role jet fighter aircraft built in the United States and used by dozens of countries all over the world. ... The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a maritime patrol aircraft of numerous militaries around the world, used primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare. ... This article is about the navy of the United Kingdom. ... RAF redirects here. ... The BAE Systems (formerly Hawker-Siddeley) Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft is derived from the De Havilland Comet, the worlds first jet airliner. ...

The Canadian Forces Maritime Command (Canadian Navy) uses Harpoons on its Halifax-Class Patrol frigates. The Royal New Zealand Air Force has the capability of carrying the Harpoon on its five P-3 patrol planes as its only source of maratime striking power against surface ships. HMCS Bastion, flagship of the Canadian Navy. ... The Halifax Class Multi-Role Patrol Frigate (hull designation FFH) is a class of Canadian Navy frigates launched between 1992 and 1996. ... The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is the air force arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. ...

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 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. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF, Chinese: 新加坡空军部队; Malay Angkatan Udara Republik Singapura) is the air force branch of the Singapore Armed Forces, established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC). ... The Pakistan Navy, is the naval wing of the Pakistan military. ... For the bird, see Frigatebird. ... Seal of the Turkish Navy The Turkish Navy (Turkish: ) is a branch of the Turkish Armed Forces. ...

57 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. This is not surprising, since these are either former USN destroyers or identical to U.S.N. frigates - the Oliver Hazard Perry-class. The Republic of China Air Force (中華民國空軍; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Mínguó Kōngjūn) is the aviation branch of the armed forces of the Republic of China on Taiwan, and is often viewed as one of the most professional and capable branches of the Republic of Chinas armed forces. ... This article is about the naval officer. ...

Harpoon Block ID

This version featured a larger fuel tank and reattack capability, but was not produced in numbers because its intended mission (confrontation with 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] AGM-62 Walleye loaded on board an aircraft The AGM-62 Walleye is a television-guided glide bomb which was produced by Martin Marietta and used during the 1960s. ... Over fifty GPS satellites such as this NAVSTAR have been launched since 1978. ... For other uses, see Data (disambiguation). ... The AGM-65 Maverick is an air-to-ground tactical missile (AGM) designed for close air support. ... For other uses, see Missile (disambiguation). ... A sensor is a technological device or biological organ that detects, or senses, a signal or physical condition. ...

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.^[3] A Tomahawk cruise missile The Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM) is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile with stubby wings. ... Look up image in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article is about the machine. ...

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 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. Image File history File links Harpoon-block-II-launch. ... Image File history File links Harpoon-block-II-launch. ... The fifth USS Decatur (DDG-73) was laid down on 11 January 1996 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine; launched on 9 November 1996, sponsored by Mrs. ... St. ... Inspecting an AN/ALQ-184 Electronic Attack Pod Electronic countermeasures (ECM) are a subsection of electronic warfare which includes any sort of electrical or electronic device designed to fool radar, sonar, or other detection systems like IR (infrared) and Laser. ...

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. An crap is a closed system that is used to detect altitude, location, and motion. ... The Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) is a low-cost guidance kit that converts existing unguided gravity bombs, or dumb bombs, into accurate, all-weather smart munitions. ... GPS redirects here. ...

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.^{[citation needed]} The Royal Danish Navy (or Kongelige Danske Marine in Danish) is the sea-based branch of The Danish Defence force. ...

Harpoon Block III

With the addition of a robust datalink system, Harpoon Block III provides inflight target updates, positive terminal control and connectivity with future network architecture, resulting in more control after the weapon is released. The datalink already provides autonomous, all-weather, over-the-horizon capability. In telecommunication, the term data link has the following meanings: The means of connecting one location to another for the purpose of transmitting and receiving data. ... In telecommunication, the term data link has the following meanings: The means of connecting one location to another for the purpose of transmitting and receiving data. ...

The Harpoon Block III Weapon System provides the U.S. Navy and its allies with Surface Warfare (SuW) capabilities from ships and aircraft. Harpoon Block III creates a highly capable weapon for the open water and littoral warfare environment, adding Global Positioning System capability, littoral performance improvement and a precision moving target solution. The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... GPS redirects here. ...

The 500-pound blast warhead delivers lethal firepower for conventional anti-ship missions, such as open-ocean, near-land, or ships in port. The datalink updated Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System improves mid-course guidance to the target area. The accurate navigation solution allows users to discriminate target ships from islands, other nearby land masses, obstructions, or ships. Harpoon Block III will be deployable from Harpoon missile system platforms with existing command and launch equipment, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and the Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) like P-3 Orion. In telecommunication, the term data link has the following meanings: The means of connecting one location to another for the purpose of transmitting and receiving data. ... GPS redirects here. ... Four F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets assigned to the Black Aces of Strike Fighter Squadron Forty One (VFA-41) fly over the Western Pacific Ocean in a stack formation. ... The Lockheed P-3 Orion is a maritime patrol aircraft of numerous militaries around the world, used primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine warfare. ...

Operational history

In 1981 and 1982 there were two accidental launches of Harpoon missiles from US and Danish surface ships. On September 6, 1982 a frigate, the HDMS Peder Skram, accidentally fired a Harpoon missile during maneuvers in the Kattegat. ...

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 (CG-48) with no confirmed results and several others from A-6 Intruder aircraft that were said to have hit their targets.^[4][5] 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.^[6] USN redirects here. ... Gulf of Sidra is a body of water in the Mediterranean Sea on the northern coast of Libya; it is also known as Gulf of Sirte. ... USS Yorktown (DDG-48/CG-48) was a Ticonderoga-class cruiser in the United States Navy from 1984 to 2004, named for the American Revolutionary War Battle of Yorktown. ... The A-6 Intruder is a twin-engine, mid-wing attack aircraft built by Grumman Aerospace. ...

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 mostly sunk by RIM-66 Standard missiles. An Iranian Harpoon was also fired at the destroyer USS Wainwright. The missile passed along the side of the warship but apparently it failed to detect and engage the ship. The Iranian frigate Sahand, a British-made Vosper Mark V class frigate (also known as Alvand class frigate), was commissioned as part of a four-ship order. ... Iranian frigate IS Sahand (74) attacked by aircraft of U.S. Navy Carrier Air Wing 11 in retaliation for the mining of the guided missile frigate USS . ... The Joshan P225 FAC(M) is an Iranian missile patrol boat (PT boat). ... RIM-66 Standard missile (SM-2 MR) on a Mk. ... Three ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Wainwright. ...

In December 1988, a Harpoon launched by an F/A-18 Hornet airplane from the aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64)^[7] 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, but when the Jagvivek strayed into the test range, the unarmed Harpoon, loaded with an inert warhead, locked onto it instead of its intended target. The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F/A-18 Hornet is a modern all-weather carrier-capable strike fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets. ... USS Constellation (CV-64), a Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the new constellation of stars on the flag of the United States. ... The Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) at Barking Sands, Kauai, is the worlds largest instrumented, multi-dimensional testing and training range. ... Kauai (Hawaiian IPA pron. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... Notice to Mariners is an American navigation publication made available weekly by the Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic Topographic Center (DMAHTC), prepared jointly with the National Ocean Service (NOS) and the U.S. Coast Guard. ...

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 Corpany - East
• Power plant: Teledyne Teledyne J402 turbojet, 660 lb-force (2.9 kN) thrust, and a solid-propellant booster for surface and submarine launches
• 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 (approx 50 nautical miles)
  • 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, or 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)

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 535 pixelsFull resolution (1232 × 824 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 535 pixelsFull resolution (1232 × 824 pixel, file size: 1. ... USS Thorn (DD-988), a Spruance-class destroyer, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Lieutenant Jonathan Thorn (1779–1811), who took part in Decaturs expedition to destroy the captured frigate Philadelphia in 1804. ... Teledyne (NYSE: TDY) is an industrial conglomerate primarily based in the United States but with global operations. ... Turbojets are the simplest and oldest kind of general purpose jet engines. ... USD redirects here. ...

References

“TIME” redirects here. ... April 7 is the 97th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (98th in leap years). ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year (86th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... The New York Times is a daily newspaper published in New York City and distributed internationally. ... is the 86th day of the year (87th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ...

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