Recently, the naval forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine struck another Russian ship – the
Vasily Bekh rescue tug of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
This time with Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
Today we are going to talk about these missiles.
After Russia’s attack on Ukraine in February, our defenders received a lot of modern military
equipment from their Western partners, from armored vehicles and tanks to missile systems
and ammunition.
Among them are the Harpoon anti-ship missiles provided by Denmark.
Ukraine needs modern anti-ship weapons to be able to withstand the Russian Navy and
its Black Sea Fleet.
Russian ships fire cruise missiles at our territory from hundreds of kilometers away
from the Ukrainian coast and block Ukrainian ports, disrupting grain exports, creating
a global food crisis.
The efficiency of the enemy fleet is supported by the Black Sea Fleet base Sevastopol – the
main port of the Crimean peninsula, occupied in 2014.
But no Russian ship can feel safe after the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet, the Moskva
cruiser, was sunk by Ukranian-made Neptune missiles.
In addition to that, we have high hopes for Harpoon anti-ship missiles that can change
the course of the confrontation at sea.
Why are Harpoon missiles interesting?
While the Javelins are the most famous anti-tank weapons, the Polish Peruns are the most popular
anti-aircraft systems, and the Bayraktar TB2 are the kings of drones (at least in the war
in Ukraine), the Harpoon is one of the world’s most famous and powerful anti-ship missiles.
And the fact that they are used by more than 600 surface ships, 180 submarines, 12 types
of jets and a number of ground-based coastal defense systems, only confirms this.
The Harpoon is a subsonic anti-ship cruise missile developed in the United States that
has been in the Pentagon’s service since 1977.
Since its inception, many modifications have been released, including air, ship and submarine
versions.
Harpoon has also undergone many upgrades, which has improved missile range and aiming
accuracy.
Various types of this powerful anti-ship missile have been exported to 32 countries.
Harpoon anti-ship missile modifications
Let’s take a closer look at the upgraded versions of the Harpoon.
Since its introduction in 1977, Harpoon has received many hardware and software upgrades,
leading to many modifications of the missile.
For clarity, in 1973 the Navy defined the following designations for the Harpoon family:
A – air launch, R – surface from ships, U – underwater launch, G – surface strike,
M – guided missile.
Harpoon received several different versions known as Blocks.
Of course, the original model is known as Harpoon Block I, and then there were further
variations.
Block IA (RGM/UGM/AGM-84A)
Because the AGM-84A does not have solid propellant accelerators, it can only attack targets in
dive mode.
This version of the missile is shorter and lighter than those designed for surface and
underwater launch.
AGM-84A has a length of 3.85 m, a diameter of 0.343 m, a starting weight of 556 kg, while
the RGM/UGM-84A has a length of 4.64 m, a diameter of 0.343 m and a starting weight
of 682 kg.
The AGM-84A has a longer range of 120 km compared to the RGM / UGM-84A, which flies only 92.6
km.
Inertial mid-course navigation and active radar are used to guide the Block IA model
during the final flight phase.
The missiles are equipped with a high-explosive warhead weighing 224 kg.
There are two versions of special launchers for Harpoon – Mark 140 Mod-0 and Mark 141
Mod-1, which can launch one rocket every two seconds.
The UGM-84A Encapsulated Harpoon Weapon System (EHWS) is essentially the same as the RGM-84A,
except that it is launched from a submarine’s torpedo launchers in a launch capsule.
Block IB (RGM/UGM-84C)
Introduced in 1982, this version contains only minor changes to the flight profile and
software compared to Block IA.
The flight path has a lower altitude, instead of performing a pop-up maneuver, Block IB
attacks the target at ultra-low altitude.
In addition, this option has advanced electronic countermeasures (ECCM) to improve the guidance
accuracy.
Block IC (RGM/UGM-84D)
Introduced in 1985, Block IC differs from previous versions in flight path, guidance
system and targeting technology.
While Block IB and IA can perform either a low-rise pop-up or a low-altitude approach,
Block IC can do both.
In addition to the improved ECCM characteristics, the Block IC has a slightly higher altitude
in the first stage of the flight trajectory to avoid damaging its ships and other obstacles
that may be in the path of the missile.
Changing the type of fuel used in the rocket increased its range to 124 km.
Block ID (RGM84-F)
Introduced in 1991, the 5.3 m long Block ID missile showed increased range – up to 240
km.
The guidance system was changed, which allowed to re-attack the target in case of a miss.
However, this model was discontinued in 2003 because its length and weight limited the
types of launchers capable of launching this missile (both surface and underwater).
Block IE (AGM-84E/SLAM)
The SLAM (Standoff Land Attack Missile) variant is an air-to-surface missile.
It uses Harpoon’s glider, warhead and engine, but it is otherwise very different from its
predecessors.
The addition of a GPS receiver, a Walleye infrared guidance system (IIR) and a Maverick
data link system has significantly increased the target hitting accuracy.
The missile has a length of 4.5 m, a diameter of 0.34 m, and a launch weight of 628 kg.
SLAM entered service in 1990 and was successfully involved in Operation Desert Storm and the
UN Mission in Bosnia.
Block IG (RGM/UGM-84G)
The Block IG variant was developed for ships equipped with light launchers that could not
use the longer RGM-84F.
In other words, Block IG has all the updates that were in the Block ID model, except for
the extended fuel tank, so the maximum range of this rocket is similar to Block IC.
Launched in 1999, this system uses advanced software that allows it to pass up to eight
route points during the flight, and is equipped with automatic coastline avoidance technology.
Block IH (AGM-84K/SLAM-ER)
SLAM-ER (improved version) first came into service in 1999.
The system has an advanced IIR finder, a titanium warhead for greater penetration and arrow-shaped
wings that deploy in flight (similar to the RGM/UGM 109 Tomahawk design) to increase the
maximum range of the missile to 280 km.
The missile uses inertial navigation and GPS for mid-range guidance before switching to
IIR in its final flight phase.
It should be noted that SLAM-ER uses two-way data link communication with the Advanced
Data Link AWW-13 module, which allows the operator to see the target in real time.
SLAM-ER is also the first weapon with automatic target detection technology, which allows
the missile to overcome infrared countermeasures more effectively, better distinguish targets
in a busy battle scene and limit the impact of adverse weather conditions on missile accuracy.
The missile is capable of hitting moving ships and moving ground targets with a relative
maximum error of up to 3 m.
Block II (RGM/UGM-84J/L)
First delivered by the US Navy in 2009, the Block II variant combines an inertial measuring
unit and software from the Joint Direct Attack Munition with an inertial GPS / INS navigation
system from SLAM-ER.
These improvements in missile guidance technology allow it to operate in coastal waters and
attack both naval and ground targets.
In addition, the guidance system is able to aim beyond the horizon with the help of a
helicopter, which allows aiming at hidden targets outside the line of sight of radar.
The missile carries a warhead weighing 224 kg and has a maximum spread of 10-13 m.
It is this modification that is now in the service of our military, and this is exactly
the missile that recently hit the tug of the occupiers.
Block II+ ER
Introduced in 2015 by Boeing as the next generation of Harpoon, the Block II+ Extended Range aims
to increase the uncategorized range of the Block II by 124 km.
To do this, the missile uses a lighter but more efficient warhead, as well as an improved
turbojet engine, which doubles the range of the missile to 248 km.
Block II+ is limited to F/A-18 and P-8 Increment III naval patrol aircraft.
That is, this option is experimental rather than working.
Why does Ukraine need Harpoon missiles?
Ukrainian Neptune missiles can hit targets at a distance of up to 280 km, and Harpoons
– up to 310 km in the latest versions, but we must not forget about the most important
thing…
The theoretical advantage of Harpoon missiles over Neptune, however, is questionable in
practice.
This is due to the fact that in the best modification (Harpoon Block II+ ER) Harpoon can hit targets
at a distance of up to 310 km, but Denmark does not have access to them, so, of course,
could not provide them to Ukraine.
On the other hand, we still do not know how the practical range is compared with the theoretical
in the case of Ukrainian Neptunes.
But they proved their potential by destroying the Russian flagship cruiser Moskva.
It is a pity that we are simply short on our Neptunes.
It is known that the actual range of most developed versions of Harpoon (including those
to which Denmark has access) is less, so it is around 120 km.
What about Neptune, developed on the basis of Soviet missiles?
Nobody knows, because we just lack data on this, and this applies to their general capabilities.
But the Harpoon Block II (RGM/UGM-84J/L), in turn, has been tested in combat, and their
effectiveness and capabilities are supported by strong evidence.
Therefore, we can hope that in the current situation, Ukraine, having received Harpoon
missiles with ground launchers, will be able to destroy the Russian fleet with greater
accuracy and at greater range.
This will push Russian ships farther from shore, which will prevent them from achieving
their goals.
The sinking of the Vasiliy Bekh tug has already proved Harpoon’s effective work, and we
expect great news from them in the future.