The Harpoon anti-ship missile is probably the most common weapon of its category in the West. From its initial production n 1975 by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing) more than 7000 have been produced. The ships have been put in a lot of warships among the world, at the fair price of around 1,5 million dollars per unit.
A feature that is not well known is that the missile was initially designed to perform as an anti-submarine weapon. Its sea-skimming ability would be used to destroy diesel submarines while they were charging their batteries on the surface.
The US Navy had that idea because of the Soviet diesel submarines. However, their purpose changed when the Soviet cruise anti-ship missile P-15 Termit destroyed the Israeli destroyer Eilat in 1967. This event changed the minds of the US Navy and convinced them about the need for a capable anti-ship missile. So, they changed the purpose of the weapon without changing its name.
Specifications and Performance
Harpoon is a subsonic, highly explosive sea-skimming anti-ship missile. The missile flies at the target with the help of active radar and explodes at the contact. Its warhead weighs almost 221 kg and its propulsion is being achieved by Teledyne CAE J402-300 turbojet that provides 300 kg of thrust. This system provides the missile with a cruise speed of 0,5 Mach (613 km/h).
Harpoon has been through a lot of different development stages, named Blocks. The initial model is known as Block 1 and when arriving at the target, Block 1 flies at a higher altitude a moment before diving right at the target. Block 1B doesn't have this feature, while Block 1C has it as an optional one. The Block 1D limited production model has improved range and the ability to attack the target two times if the first one misses. Block 1G is an improved version of the SLAM-ER, while Block 1J is a proposed improved version of the missile that will help it to be launched against sea and land targets. With this feature, the SlAM and the original Harpoon models will be useless.
CONTINUE READING
Αυτοί είναι οι 10 καλύτεροι φορητοί αντιαρματικοί πύραυλοι!
The Block 2 model is the latest operational missile of the Harpoon family. New features include improved resistance to countermeasures and better targeting. The missile has an improved range, a most effective engine (in fuel consumption), and a lighter warhead. This version is a contender to arm the newest combatant ships of the US Navy, the Freedom-class.
In military ships, Harpoon is being launched by octuple launchers.
The missile was used on the battlefield for the first time in 1980 in the Iran-Iraq war. After that, the missile was used in conflicts between the USA and Libya in 1986, at war operations in the Persian Gulf in 1986, and other launches.
Today, almost 30 countries like Australia, North Korea, Germany, and United Kingdom use the missile. The Hellenic Navy uses Harpoon missiles for some years too.
