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| Boeing Harpoon Block II Missile Tested by U.S. Navy |
ST. LOUIS, June 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Navy recently tested the new
Harpoon Block II missile at the Naval Air Warfare Center-Weapons Division sea
range off Pt. Mugu, Calif.
The missile was launched from the USS Decatur (DDG-73), an Arleigh Burke-
class guided missile destroyer. The test demonstrated the Harpoon Block II
weapon system's open-ocean ability to select the proper target using the
Navy's Mobile Sea Target and another target ship, the MK-35 SEPTAR. The
missile tracked and acquired the target exactly as planned. Flight tests
later this summer will demonstrate the missile's other capabilities.
Harpoon Block II is an upgraded version of the world's most successful
anti-ship missile, which is in service with the armed forces of 26 countries.
Block II improves strike capabilities in congested littoral environments and
adds the ability to attack land-based coastal targets.
Harpoon Block II also provides accurate long-range guidance by
incorporating the low-cost inertial measuring unit from the Boeing Joint
Direct Attack Munition program; and the software, mission computer, integrated
Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System and the GPS antenna and
receiver from the Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response.
"The Block II missile clearly provides a significant improvement over the
existing Block 1C version currently in the U.S. Navy's inventory. These
improvements support a warfighter's needs for a flexible multipurpose
missile," said Capt. Carl Reiber, Navy program manager, Standoff Missile
Systems (PMA-258).
The accurate navigation solution provided by the new components allows the
Harpoon Block II to discriminate target ships from islands, other obstructions
or neutral ships.
The 500-pound blast warhead delivers lethal firepower against a wide
variety of land-based targets, including coastal defense sites, surface-to-air
missile sites, exposed aircraft, port/industrial facilities and ships in port.
The multi-mission Block II missile can be deployed from all current
Harpoon missile system platforms with either existing command and launch
equipment or the new Advanced Harpoon Weapon Control System.
Numerous foreign countries are considering the Harpoon Block II under U.S.
foreign military sales agreements.
SOURCE The Boeing Company
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