Boeing eyes radar-guided Harpoon anti-ship coastal-defense missiles for U.S. allies in $1.17 billion deal
PATUXENT RIVER NAS, Md. – Air-defense experts at the Boeing Co. will build coastal-defense missiles for U.S. allies such as Taiwan under terms of a $1.17 billion order announced Friday.
Officials of the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., are asking the Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment in St. Louis to produce and deliver the Harpoon Coastal Defense System Launch System (HCDS) for U.S. allies.
The order consists of 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II Update (HIIU) Grade B canister tactical missiles; four RTM-84L-4 Block II HIIU Grade B canister exercise missiles; 411 containers; four blast test vehicles; two Harpoon Weapon System (HWS) Joint Common Test Sets (JCTS); Harpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS) spare parts; weapon station support equipment; JCTS spares; missile spares; HCDS training equipment; integrated logistics support and technical publications, and field training.
The HCDS is the land-based version of the Boeing Harpoon missile Block II anti-ship and land-attack missile, which is designed to eliminate enemy coastal defenses, surface-to-air missile launch sites, aircraft, ports, and docked ships.
HCDS consists of RGM-84L-4 Block II surface-launched Harpoon missiles with a maximum range of 75 miles, radar trucks, and support and test equipment. The Harpoon Block II, uses a 500-pound warhead for sea and land-based targets.
The Harpoon’s active radar-guided low-level sea-skimming cruise trajectory, terminal mode sea-skim or pop-up maneuvers, and warhead design, assure high survivability and effectiveness, Navy officials say. The Harpoon missile has been in the Navy inventory since 1977.
On this order Boeing will do the work in McKinney, Texas; Pontiac, Mich.; Annapolis, Md.; Pine Brook, N.J.; St. Louis; Randolph, Vt.; Galena, Kan.; Huntsville, Ala.; Grove, Okla.; Chandler, Ariz.; Setauket, N.Y.; Enumclaw and Federal Way, Wash.; Minneapolis; St. Charles and Union, Mo.; and other locations, and should be finished by March 2029.
For more information contact Boeing Defense, Space & Security online at www.boeing.com/company/about-bds, or Naval Air Systems Command at www.navair.navy.mil.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
