The
U.S. Navy completed a free-flight test of the new network-enabled Harpoon
missile system Nov. 18 at the Sea Range at Point Mugu, California. Building
on the nearly 40-year legacy of the Harpoon, the upgraded missile, known
as AGM-84N Harpoon Block II+, will have the ability to receive in-flight
updates that improve the targeting and engagement of moving maritime
targets. |
“This
successful free-flight test is a tremendous achievement for the joint
Boeing and Navy team and reflects their hard work and dedication over
the past several years,” said Cmdr. Matt Farr, Harpoon/ Standoff
Land Attack Missile—Extended Range deputy program manager. “We
are on schedule to deliver this important capability to the fleet in
2017, giving the U.S. Navy a significant advantage in anti-surface warfare.”
The free-flight missile event was the first end-to-end functionality
test of an inert Harpoon Block II+ from pre-flight to target impact.
The test proved that the missile could receive target location updates
from an F/A-18 while in-flight through its network-enabled datalink.
It then successfully acquired a moving ship target using its active
radar seeker and guided itself autonomously to impact the target.
This test, the culmination of 152 lab-test sessions, 15 aircraft ground
tests and 16 flight tests, will be followed by another more demanding
developmental test in fiscal year 2016.
“The Harpoon missile is the premier surface warfare weapon in
service today and we are working to ensure that it remains viable and
lethal into the future.” said Capt. Jaime Engdahl, Precision Strike
Weapons program manager. “Block II+ is a critical capability for
us and we are taking every opportunity to pace the growing maritime
threat by continuously improving Harpoon’s range, survivability,
and lethality.”
The AGM-84N Harpoon Block II+ will also have a new GPS guidance kit
that will enhance the weapon’s navigation.
Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon weapon designed to execute
both land-strike and anti-ship missions against a range of targets.
Since introduction to the fleet in 1977, a total of 7,500 missiles have
been delivered to the U.S. Navy and its 29 foreign partners. |
