Harpoon (AGM-84/RGM-84/ UGM-84)
The series of AGM/RGM/UGM-84 Harpoons are long-range sea-skimming, anti-ship missiles that are the mostwidely used antiship missiles in the West. The ship-launched version of the Harpoon was originally conceived as an air-to-surface missile to attack surfaced Soviet Echo-class cruise missile submarines. The missile is deployed in surface ships and submarines, in land-based coastal defense positions, and on aircraft for a broad anti-ship role. All Harpoons in US service have been upgraded to AGM/RGM/UGM-84D (Block 1C) level.
All Harpoons through Block 1C have the same missile body; different launch systems will use different body wings and fins, and restraint shoes. Harpoons launched from surface ships, submarines, or coastal defense platforms require a booster that is the same for all applications. Air-launched Harpoons do not require a booster and have pylon-attachment lugs instead of shoes. The Block 1D(AGM/RGM-84F) has a 23.2-in (592-mm) plug for more fuel capacity, relocated wings, and a Missile Guidance Unit (MGU) based on the AGM-84E SLAM.
Like the French Exocet missile, the Harpoon is a “fire and forget” weapon.
Target information is developed in different ways depending on the platform. Surface ships use the Harpoon Shipboard Command and Launch Control Set (HSCLCS, pronounced “Sickles”). Larger aircraft-P-3, F27 Maritime, B-52G, and Nimrod-are fitted with the “stand-alone” Aircraft Command and Launch Control Set (HACLCS or “Hackles”). Others-S-3 Viking and the Australian F-111C Pig-have a hybrid system that depends in part on the aircraft’s weapons control system.
The F-16′s Harpoon Interface Adapter Kit (HIAK) is a hybrid variant having software changes and a control box fitted in the underwing stores pylon. Full integration is also found on US, British Royal Navy, Australian, and Netherlands Navy submarines. Other non-US submarines are fitted with the Encapsulated Harpoon Command and Launch Control Set
(EHCLS or “Eckles”).
The MGU uses a Northrop or Smiths Industries (formerly Lear-Siegler) strap-down, three-axis Attitude Reference Assembly (ARA) to monitor the missile’s relation to its launch platform (rather than in relation to the earth, as in inertial guidance). If terrain or nonhostile targets need to be avoided, a high-altitude flyout is preferred. A stealthier approach is to drop down to a presearch sea-skimming altitude.
The starting point for a circular search is offset from the target in the direction that offers the best chance of acquiring the intended target. The Bearing Only Launch (BOL) is used when the range to the target is not known or when target bearing or range is imprecisely known.
In the Block 1C, the missile has improved Electronic Counter- Countermea-sures (ECCM) as part of the missile upgrade.
Surface-ship-launched Harpoons are loaded into one of three types of reusable launch canisters at the factory or at a weapons station. The Harpoon can be fired from Mk 11 twin-rail and Mk 13 single-rail Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) launchers, or from four cells (two outer on each end) of the eight-cell Mk 16 Antisubmarine Rocket (ASROC) launcher.
Submarine-launched Harpoons are carried in a buoyant capsule that is launched from a standard 21-in (533mm) torpedo tube.
DEVELOPMENT •
The missile’s initial operational capability was in 1977 for surface ships and submarines, in 1979 in P-3C antisubmarine patrol aircraft, and 1981 in A-6E attack aircraft. Initial operational capability for AGM/RGM-84D was in 1984.
First air-launched tests were in 1972. Over 6,400 Harpoons and SLAMs had been ordered by the end of 1991. The missile is intended to continue in US service well into the 21st century.
The Harpoon has been deployed on US Air Force B-52G bombers and several US Navy aircraft. The missile is also deployed in the aircraft of eight European and Asian nations, as well as on board several classes of US Navy cruisers, destroyers, frigates, and small combatants, and the surface warships of 19 other nations. The UGM-84 is deployed in submarines of the US Navy and nine other navies.
The land-launched coastal defense missile variant of the Harpoon was ordered by South Korea (three batteries), Denmark, and Norway. This missile was identical to the production version, with quad canister and launched from a buyer-supplied vehicle.
VARIANTS •
AGM/RGM-84A, UGM-84B (S&Harpoon, UK), RGM-84C, AGM/ RGM-/UGM-84D, AGM/RGM-84F.
COMBAT EXPERIENCE •
The first combat use of the Harpoon was by US naval forces against Libyan missile corvettes in the Gulf of Sidra in March 1986. During three separate incidents, at least two, and possibly an unconfirmed third,missile craft were destroyed by US Navy A-6E Intruders.
On April 18, 1988, US Navy frigate Bagley (FF 1069) launched a single RGM-84D Harpoon missile at the Iranian missile craft Joshan as she fired an RGM-84A Harpoon at US ships. Harpoons were fired on several occasions during the expanded US ship operations against Iraq that year.
During Operation Desert Storm, US Navy ships had very few chances for using Harpoons, as most Iraqi naval ships and craft were sunk by air-launched bombs and rockets. In late January 1991, the Saudis reported that one of their missile craft sank an Iraqi ship with a Harpoon.
SPECIFICATIONS •
MANUFACTURER McDonnell Douglas MISSILE WEIGHT
AGM-84D: 1,172 lb (531.6 kg)
RGM-84D Mk 11/13: 1,527 lb (692.6 kg) Mk 16: 1,466 lb (665.0 kg)
canister/capsule: 1,530 lb (694.0
AGkgM) -84F: 1,390 lb (630.5 kg) RGM-84F: 1,757 lb (797.0 kg)
DIMENSIONS
configuration
thick cylinder with pointed nose, cruciform trapezoidal wings at midbody, cruciform in-line swept “cropped delta” control fins at tail; wings and control surfaces fold for storage, pop out after launch; engine has nearly flush ventral air intake; surface-launch version has short booster section with cruciform fins length AGM-84D: 12 ft 7% in
(3.898 m)
RGM/UGM-84D/coastal:
15 ft 2% in (4.635 m) AGM-84F: 14 ft 7 in
(4.445 m) RGM-84F: 17 ft 2 in
(5.232 m)
diameter 13% in (340 mm) wingspan 3 ft (0.914 m) PROPULSION
booster (surface-/coastal-/submarine-launch) : Aerojet or Thiokol solid-
fuel rocket (avg 12,000 lb/5,444 kg
static thrust)
Teledyne Continental CAE-J402-
CA-400 turbojet sustainer developing 600 lb (273 kg) static thrust; 100 lb (45.4 kg) fuel (JP-10 in
Block 1C/ 1D missiles) PERFORMANCE
speed Mach 0.85
max range AGM-84D: 75-80 nm
(86.3-92.1 mi; 139-148
AGM-84F: approx 150 nm (173 mi; 278 km) wARHEAD 500 lb (227 kg) conventional high explosive with some penetration capability
SENSORS/FIRE CONTROL
HCLS provides targeting data; no updates once missile is launched
on-board Midcourse Guidance Unit (MGU): IBM digital computer, Smiths Industries 3-axis ARA, and
Honeywell AN/APN-194 short-
pulse radar or Kollsman Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave
(FMCW) altimeter
Texas Instruments PR-53/DSQ-28 monopulse frequency-agile, jittered Pulse Repetition Frequency (PRF) active radar-homing seeker switched on at preplanned point
Skipper II (AGM-123)
The Skipper is a laser-guided standoff an-tiship missile originally based on existing missile and bomb components. The
“body” is a standard Mk 83 1,000-lb (454
kg) bomb. The rocket motor is derived from the Shrike antiradar missile (AGM-45). The seeker, based on the Paveway II laser-guided bomb series, homes on a remotely designated laser reflected from the target.
DEVELOPMENT •
The missile’s initial operational capability was in 1985. In service with the US Navy on A-6E Intruder aircraft. The Skipper II was developed by the Naval Weapons Center at China Lake, California. Although the missile is comparatively low in cost and composed of already tested components, its deployment was delayed through a lack of strong support by the Navy.
The FOGS (Fiber-Optic Guided Skipper) is a variation of the Skipper using US Army-developed fiber-optic data
link for Non Line of Sight (NLOS)
launch. After discouraging testing and other technical problems, the Navy abandoned the program in March 1991, and reprogrammed funding to support development of the Advanced Interdiction Weapons System (AIWS), which itself was later cancelled.
COMBAT EXPERIENCE •
On April 18,
1988, a US Navy A-6 Intruder struck the
Iranian frigate Sahand with an AGM-123 after the ship engaged US Navy warships in the Strait of Hormuz. The Sahand also sustained hits from an air-launched
AGM-84 Harpoon and an RGM-84
launched by the USS Joseph Strauss (DDG 16) and sank later that night.
Three Skippers were launched by US Marine Corps aircraft in January-February 1991 during Operation Desert Storm.
SPECIFICATIONS •
MANUFACTURFX
Aerojet General (rocket motor) Emerson Electric (guidance) missile weight 1,283 lb (582 kg)
warhead 1,000 lb (454 kg)
DIMENSIONS
configuration
Mk 83 bomb has tapered body; guidance section pivots on nose, has cruciform fixed “cropped delta” fins, ringed tip; booster section at tail has cruciform, pop-out swept wings
length 14 ft (4.27 m)
wingspan’ 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m) propulsion Aerojet General solid-fuel booster
PERFORMANCE
speed 500 kts (575 mph; 926 km/h)
range approx 5.2 nm (6 mi; 9.7
km) at 500 kts and 300 ft (91.4 m) launch
altitude
warhead conventional high explosive
with FMU-376 fuze
sensors/fire control guidance: laser homing from remote designator
