AGM-84 Harpoon

AGM-84 Harpoon. The AGM-84 Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon anti-ship missile system developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing Defense, Space & Security). Entering service with the United States Navy in 1977, it has become a cornerstone of naval warfare for the U.S. and numerous allied nations, designed to engage a variety of surface vessel targets. Its deployment across multiple platforms—including aircraft, ships, submarines, and land-based launchers—has made it one of the most widely distributed anti-ship missiles in the world.

Development and design

The Harpoon's development was initiated in the late 1960s following the 1967 attack on the USS Liberty and the 1968 seizure of the USS Pueblo, which highlighted a critical gap in the U.S. Navy's stand-off anti-ship capability. The program was managed by the United States Department of Defense with McDonnell Douglas as the prime contractor. The design centered on a Teledyne CAE J402 turbojet for sustained cruise, with a solid-fuel rocket booster for initial launch from ships or submarines. Guidance combines a mid-course guidance system using an inertial navigation system with terminal-phase active radar homing, enabling it to skim at low altitude over the water to evade enemy defenses. Key design features for survivability include electronic counter-countermeasures and a penetrator warhead optimized for damaging modern warships.

Operational history

The Harpoon was first deployed in 1977 aboard the USS Farragut (DDG-37), rapidly becoming a standard weapon across the United States Navy surface fleet, United States Air Force Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers, and United States Navy aircraft like the P-3 Orion and later the F/A-18 Hornet. Its combat debut occurred during Operation Praying Mantis in 1988, where U.S. forces employed it to sink the Iranian frigate Sahand in the Persian Gulf. Other notable combat use includes strikes by the Royal Saudi Air Force during the Gulf War and deployments by the Pakistan Navy during tensions with India. It has been a frequent export to allied nations under the supervision of the United States Department of State and is integrated into the naval strategies of countries like the United Kingdom, Japan, and South Korea.

Variants

The core Harpoon family includes the original ship-launched RGM-84A and the air-launched AGM-84A, which entered service in the 1970s. The AGM-84D, introduced in the 1980s, featured improved range and a new guidance computer. The submarine-launched UGM-84 was encapsulated for torpedo-tube launch. Later developments include the AGM-84E Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM) and AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER, which added GPS and imaging infrared seekers for precision strikes against land targets. The most recent production version is the Harpoon Block II, which incorporates enhanced navigation and targeting capabilities for coastal and littoral warfare. A proposed Harpoon Next Generation was studied but superseded by the Naval Strike Missile and Long Range Anti-Ship Missile programs.

Operators

The primary operator is the United States Navy, which integrates the Harpoon on vessels like the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and aircraft including the P-8 Poseidon. Major international operators include the Royal Australian Navy, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Republic of Korea Navy, the Royal Navy, and the German Navy. It has also been exported to nations such as Egypt, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Many operators have undertaken service life extension programs to maintain the missile's viability. The Harpoon Coastal Defense System has been deployed by several nations, including Taiwan and Greece.

Specifications (AGM-84D)

The AGM-84D air-launched variant has a launch weight of approximately 1,523 pounds (691 kilograms) and a length of 12.6 feet (3.8 meters). It is powered by a Teledyne CAE J402 turbojet engine, providing a speed of high subsonic (approximately Mach 0.71) and a range of about 75 nautical miles (139 kilometers). The missile carries a 488-pound (221-kilogram) penetration blast fragmentation warhead. Its guidance system uses an inertial navigation system for mid-course flight, with terminal guidance provided by an active radar seeker. The wingspan is 3 feet (91.4 centimeters), and the body diameter is 13.5 inches (34 centimeters).

Category:Anti-ship missiles of the United States Category:McDonnell Douglas Category:Boeing defense products