The US Navy and the Harpoon III

No, not the PC game.

Among major powers, the US Navy may have the least sophisticated ship launched anti-ship missile inventory in the world. In a May 2006 article in Sea Power, it was reported that the Navy would begin development of a new Block III of the Boeing Harpoon missile. Since 1991, there hasn't been much need for anti-ship missiles though, with the Russian Navy hugging the docks, it isn't like there has been a peer competitor out there that would require extra funding for the anti-ship missile inventory. With an emerging China, the return of the Russian Navy to sea, and the potential for conflict in areas of heavily commercial congestion, the need for more precision in ship launched anti-ship missiles is becoming apparent.

Enter the Boeing Harpoon Block III. The Block III development program started in FY2007 and will continue through FY 2009, with orders to follow. $36.2 million was invested in FY2007 for the program, and currently $53.3 million is allocated for RDT&E; in the FY2008 budget. Below is the justification text of the Harpoon Block III, which covers some of the upgrades to the existing Harpoon 1C baseline.

MISSION DESCRIPTION AND BUDGET ITEM JUSTIFICATION:

FY 2007 New Start Program. The Harpoon Block III Weapons System is intended to upgrade and expand the capabilities of the Navy’s only anti-ship, all weather missile to improve its precision in a congested, littoral environment. Modification of the RGM-84D Harpoon 1C baseline missile will provide for Global Positioning System (GPS) accuracy, target selectivity in a littoral environment, and in-flight target position update solutions as well as positive terminal control. Specific improvements provide for significant target discrimination as well as minimized target-to-shore separation capability, Battle Hit Indications (BHI), connectivity with future network architecture, and Land Blanking capability. Harpoon Block III will provide for a concept of operations which will support existing ISR Platform target detection; target & weapon position update (ie. UAV, Helo, Fixed wing), and ISR Platform to Weapon Correlation Mapping.

This development effort will lead to a procurement of 400 Harpoon Block III upgrade kits, beginning in FY 2009, that will retrofit existing Harpoon USN missile inventory.

FY07-FY09 RDT&E funding will support full development of Selected Availability Anti-Spoof Security Module (SAASM) development and integration, Data link integration, and Test and Evaluation.

While not mentioned in the FY2007 budget justification worksheet, DID has reported in the past the "growth path is envisioned that will add integration with the naval Mk 41 Vertical Launch System and related systems."

Boeing is getting excited about this, the forecast for anti-ship missiles in the next decade is good, and Boeing may be able to garner as much as 15% of that market with the Harpoon Block III (China, Russia, and France are traditionally leaders in this market, although the recent entrance of India to the market may impact their sales). At the same time, I have to admit I am a bit alarmed that the forecast for anti-ship missile sales over the next decade is considered a good thing. By the way, that forecast is an interesting read.