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Harpoon Still an Option for the Future

COMNAVSURFLANT Press Release

Release Date: 10/17/2002

Release No. 64-02

NORFOLK, Va. - A static display of a Harpoon cruise missile was recently unveiled at Surface Warfare Development Group (SWDG). It joins the other symbols of surface warfare displayed at SWDG, representing and completing the triad of what surface warfare is all about. The standard missile representing Air Warfare, the Mk 46 Torpedo representing Undersea Warfare and now the Harpoon representing Surface Warfare.

The Harpoon missile display dedication represents the hard work that SWDG in particular has undertaken to research and educate others in the use of this venerable weapon system whether in the open ocean or near the shore.

Harpoon has been with the fleet since 1976 when it was introduced in direct competition to then Soviet missiles that were being introduced and used. It gave the United States Navy a weapon that could be launched towards a target at significant ranges, over the horizon, and then without support from the firing platform, seek out and attack the enemy. Deployed on nearly every combatant, the system gave enemy tacticians something to think about.

The mission of the Navy has always been power projection from the sea, but since the breakup of the Soviet Union, the threat has shifted from the open ocean, or "blue-water" environment to the littoral, where operating near a shore arena presents a very different challenge. Although the Harpoon missile has proven its open ocean capability, it was thought to have no application in the near-shore arena. This belief has nearly led to the demise of the system through cost cutting.

"Many of the conceptions about Harpoon are actually misconceptions based on outdated tactical information," said Capt. Joseph Natale, Commanding Officer of SWDG, "We have made an effort to challenge these misconceptions by using this weapon to its maximum potential."

At the prospect of eliminating our only ship-launched, 24-7, all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile, SWDG began a campaign of research and education to find out if and how the weapon could be employed in the littorals and to get that word out to the decision-makers.

As it turns out, there have been significant improvements made to the weapon and its pre-launch programming system since its fleet introduction back in 1976. The missile now displayed at SWDG, the Block 1C, with its new shipboard software and firing console has a significant untapped capability, which has been proved through testing of the missile through simulation and live tests in cooperation with the Royal Navy. Given careful tactical preparation, the Harpoon missile can be employed in the littoral environment and, in spite of land, obstructions, and background shipping, could still successfully attack an enemy vessel.

"SWDG takes pride in knowing that we played a significant role in the retention of Harpoon missile," said Natale.

SWDG published the findings in a tactical memorandum (TACMEMO), "Harpoon Employment in the Littorals" to distribute the information throughout the fleet.

Cdr. Jon Lackie, Surface Warfare Tactics Officer (N7), recently attended a meeting hosted by the Harpoon program office where serious discussion commenced regarding a follow-on to the Block 1C known as Harpoon 21. "Quite a turn around for a system that less than a year ago was going away," said Lackie.