AGM-84 Harpoon
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The AGM-84 Harpoon is a U.S. all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship cruise missile system, originally developed by McDonnell Douglas, with development and manufacturing now taken over by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. In 2004, Boeing delivered the 7000th Harpoon unit since the weapon's introduction in 1977. The missile system has also been further developed into a coastal strike version, the AGM-84E Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM). Image:Harpoon asm bowfin museum.jpg
Harpoon uses active radar homing and low-level, sea-skimming cruise trajectory to improve survivability and effectiveness. The missile's launch platform options include:
- 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)
- airplanes (AGM-84, without the booster)
- coastal defense batteries
The chief competitor of the Harpoon is the French Exocet.
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Versions and operators
Original Harpoon
Initially developed for the US Navy to serve as its basic anti-ship missile for fleet-wide use, the AGM-84D has been adapted for use on Air Force B-52G bombers, which can carry from eight to 12 of the missiles. The AGM-84E has been adapted for use on the F-16 Fighting Falcon, in use by both the USA and the United Arab Emirates. 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 Egyptian Navy uses the Harpoon SSM to equip eight frigates and four submarines.
The AGM-84A was first introduced in 1977, and in 1979 an air-launched version was deployed on the Navy's P-3 Orion aircraft.
Harpoon Block II
Image:Harpoon-block-II-launch.jpg
In production at Boeing facilities in St. Charles, Mo. is the Harpoon II, intended to offer an expanded engagement envelope and advanced counter measures together with improved targeting. The key improvements of the Harpoon II are obtained by incorporating the inertial measurement unit from the JDAM program, and the software, computer, GPS/inertial navigation system and GPS antenna/receiver from the SLAM-ER (Expanded Response, an upgrade to the AGM-84E 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.
General characteristics
- Primary function: Air, surface, or submarine launched anti-surface (anti-ship) cruise missile.
- Contractor: Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
- Power plant: Teledyne Turbojet and solid propellant booster for surface and submarine launch.
- Thrust: 2.9 kN (660 lbf)
- 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:
External links
- Official Harpoon information – At Boeing's website
- Detailed information of all Harpoon versions and upgrades – From Encyclopedia Astronautica
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