U.S. to sell AGM-84L Harpoon Air-Launched Block II missiles to India.

The U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of India of 10 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II air-launched missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $92 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.

A Boeing P-8I Poseidon launches two AGM-84L Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles (Picture source: U.S. DOD/Boeing)

The Government of India has requested to buy 10 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II air-launched missiles. Also included are containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, Specialized Assignment Airlift Missions (SAAM), U.S. Government and contractor representatives technical assistance, engineering, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated program cost is $92 million.

The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing Defense, Space & Security). The Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM) is a land-attack variant. The regular Harpoon uses active radar homing and flies just above the water to evade defenses. The missile can be launched from:
* Fixed-wing aircraft (the AGM-84, without the solid-fuel rocket booster)
* Surface ships (the RGM-84, fitted with a solid-fuel rocket booster that detaches when expended, to allow the missile's main turbojet to maintain flight)
* Submarines (the UGM-84, fitted with a solid-fuel rocket booster and encapsulated in a container to enable submerged launch through a torpedo tube);
* Coastal defense batteries, from which it would be fired with a solid-fuel rocket booster.

The Harpoon missile system will be integrated into India’s Boeing P-8I Poseidon aircraft to conduct anti-surface warfare missions in defense of critical sea lanes while enhancing interoperability with the U.S. and other allied forces. India will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. India will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

The principal contractor will be The Boeing Company. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement required by India will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor(s). Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of additional U.S. Government and/or contractor representatives to India; however, U.S. Government or contractor personnel in-country visits will be required on a temporary basis in conjunction with program technical oversight and support requirements.