Boeing awarded contract by US Navy to supply Harpoon Block II missiles to Saudi Arabia.

Boeing is awarded a $10,870,386 modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. This modification provides for obsolescence redesign efforts in support of the production and delivery of RGM-84L Harpoon Block II surface-launched missiles for the government of Saudi Arabia.

Firing of a Harpoon missile (Picture source: U.S. Navy)

Work will be performed in St. Charles, Missouri (48.49 percent); McKinney, Texas (11.9 percent); Pontiac, Michigan (10.03 percent); Gove, Oklahoma (6.76 percent); Middletown, Connecticut (6.5 percent); Lititz, Pennsylvania (4.62 percent); Galena, Kansas (2.6 percent); Lancaster, Pennsylvania (1.62 percent); Newtown, Pennsylvania (1.27 percent); and various locations within the continental U.S. (6.21 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2019. Foreign Military Sales funds in the amount of $10,870,386 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

In production at Boeing facilities in Saint Charles, Missouri, the Harpoon Block II is intended to offer an expanded engagement envelope, enhanced resistance to electronic countermeasures and improved targeting. Specifically, the Harpoon was initially designed as an open-ocean weapon. The Block II missiles continue progress begun with Block IE, and the Block II missile provides the Harpoon with a littoral-water anti-ship capability. The key improvements of the Harpoon Block II are obtained by incorporating the inertial measurement unit from the Joint Direct Attack Munition program, and the software, computer, Global Positioning System (GPS)/inertial navigation system and GPS antenna/receiver from the SLAM Expanded Response (SLAM-ER), an upgrade to the SLAM. Harpoon Block 2 missiles are designated AGM/RGM/UGM-84L. Boeing lists 30 foreign navies as Block II customers.