2. INTRODUCTION
• The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile
system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing
Defense, Space & Security).
• 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 all-weather missile can engage a wide variety of land-based targets,
including coastal defence sites, surface-to-air missile sites, aircraft, port
or industrial facilities, and naval ships anchored in ports.
3.
4. FEATURES
• The major system components of the Harpoon Block II missile include a
booster, launch support structure and canisters, as well as command and
launch system.
• The 500-pound penetration, high-explosive blast warhead provides the
missile with enough firepower to destroy coastal defence and surface-to-
air missile sites, aircraft, port / industrial installations and docked ships.
• The ship-launched Harpoon Block II has a length of 4.62m, while the
length of the air-launched missile is 3.84m.
• The diameter of the missile is 34.3cm.
• The weight varies between 526kg and 690.8kg based on the launch
configuration.
5.
6. NAVIGATION & GUIDANCE
• The missile employs GPS-aided inertial navigation system (INS) to strike targets on
land and ships stationed in port. Harpoon Block II integrates the low-cost inertial
measuring unit from the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) programme.
• It also uses a software package, mission computer, integrated GPS/INS, and GPS
antenna and receiver from the AGM-84H SLAM-ER (Standoff Land Attack Missile
Expanded Response).
• The guidance control unit (GCU) of Harpoon Block II integrates a selective
availability anti-spoofing module (SAASM) GPS receiver. The GCU can also be
incorporated with a data link for network centric operation.
• The GPS/INS decimates midcourse guidance faults on the way to the target area
while performing conventional anti-ship missions including open-sea and near-
land.
• The accurate navigation combined with improved launch system provides better
discrimination of target vessels from islands and nearby land zones or other ships.
7.
8. PROPULSION
• The missile is propelled by a Teledyne Turbojet engine / solid
propellant booster providing a thrust of over 600lb (272.2kg).
• The propulsion system provides high subsonic speed and range
of 124km.
9.
10. SPECIFICATIONS
• Length: Air-launched: 3.8 metres (12 ft)
• Weight: Air-launched: 519 kilograms (1,144 lb)
• Diameter: 340 millimetres (13 in)
• Wing span: 914 millimetres (36.0 in)
• Maximum altitude: 910 metres (2,990 ft) with booster fins and wings
• Range: Over-the-horizon (approx 50 nautical miles)
• 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 (487 lb), penetration high-explosive blast
• Unit cost: US$16,000,000
