RGM-84 Harpoon

RGM-84 Harpoon
Avriette · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	RGM-84 Harpoon
Caption	A Harpoon launch from the USS Shiloh.
Type	Anti-ship missile
Origin	United States
Service	1977–present
Used by	See #Operators
Designer	McDonnell Douglas
Manufacturer	McDonnell Douglas, now Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Unit cost	$1,527,416 (FY2017)
Weight	1,523 lb (691 kg)
Length	15 ft (4.6 m)
Diameter	13.5 in (34 cm)
Wingspan	3 ft (0.91 m)
Vehicle range	75 nmi (139 km) for ship-launched
Speed	High subsonic, approx. Mach 0.71
Guidance	Active radar homing
Launch platform	Surface ships, Submarines, Fixed-wing aircraft, Coastal batteries

RGM-84 Harpoon. The RGM-84 Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system developed and manufactured by the American aerospace company McDonnell Douglas. Since its entry into service with the United States Navy in 1977, it has become a cornerstone of naval warfare for the U.S. and dozens of allied nations, providing a potent long-range strike capability against surface vessels. Its design emphasizes reliability, sea-skimming flight profiles to evade enemy defenses, and a powerful warhead for mission success.

Development and design

The program originated in the late 1960s following the 1967 attack on the USS Liberty and the 1968 capture of the USS Pueblo, which highlighted a critical gap in Western anti-ship capabilities. The United States Department of Defense initiated a project to develop a robust, fire-and-forget missile, with McDonnell Douglas winning the contract. The design integrated a Teledyne Continental Turbojet engine, a Texas Instruments active radar seeker, and a penetrator blast-fragmentation warhead. Key to its effectiveness is its low-altitude, sea-skimming flight trajectory, guided by a mid-course guidance system using a strapdown inertial guidance system before terminal active radar homing.

Operational history

The Harpoon was first deployed in 1977 aboard the USS *Spruance*-class destroyers and later integrated across the United States Navy surface fleet, United States Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers, and *Los Angeles*-class submarines. Its combat debut occurred in 1986 during Operation Prairie Fire and Operation El Dorado Canyon, where it was launched from U.S. aircraft and ships against Libyan Navy vessels. It saw further action during the Tanker War phase of the Iran–Iraq War, used by the U.S. Navy in the 1988 naval battle in the Persian Gulf, notably sinking the Iranian frigate Sahand. The missile has been a key export asset, used by allied forces in conflicts including the Falklands War by the British Royal Air Force and the Sri Lankan Civil War by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Variants

The original RGM-84A (ship-launched) and AGM-84A (air-launched) formed the initial Block I series. The major Block II upgrade introduced GPS-aided inertial navigation, improving targeting against coastal land objectives and ships in littoral environments. The UGM-84A was the initial submarine-launched variant, encapsulated for underwater launch. Later developments include the AGM-84E Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM) and the AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER (Expanded Response), which adapted the airframe for precise land attack. The latest iteration, the Harpoon Block II+, incorporates a new data-link and improved guidance from the Joint Direct Attack Munition program for enhanced accuracy.

Operators

The primary operator remains the United States Navy and United States Air Force. Major allied 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 is also in service with numerous other navies and air forces across NATO, the Middle East such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and Asia, including Taiwan and Pakistan. Over 30 countries have integrated the Harpoon system into their naval and aerial arsenals.

Specifications (RGM-84A)

* **Primary Function:** All-weather, over-the-horizon anti-ship missile. * **Contractor:** McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing Defense, Space & Security). * **Power Plant:** Teledyne Continental Turbojet engine; solid-fuel rocket booster for ship and submarine launch. * **Length:** 15 feet (4.6 meters). * **Launch Weight:** 1,523 pounds (691 kilograms). * **Diameter:** 13.5 inches (34 centimeters). * **Wingspan:** 3 feet (0.91 meters). * **Range:** Approximately 75 nautical miles (139 kilometers) for surface-launched variants. * **Speed:** High subsonic, approximately Mach 0.71. * **Guidance:** Mid-course navigation via strapdown inertial guidance system; terminal phase using active radar homing. * **Warhead:** 488-pound (221-kilogram) penetrator blast-fragmentation. * **Launch Platforms:** Surface ships, Submarines (from torpedo tubes), Fixed-wing aircraft (like the P-3 Orion, F/A-18 Hornet, B-52 Stratofortress), and fixed coastal batteries.

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