A test at the Point Mugu Sea Range in California marked the first developmental flight-test of Boeing’s redesigned Harpoon Block II Update anti-ship missile, an inaugural test as the program nears the start of production.
The Harpoon Block II Update (HIIU) features a near total redesign according to Boeing officials, which was completed to overcome obsolescence as interest in the Harpoon grows.
Boeing’s Harpoon anti-ship missile continues to see widespread use across the world as an air, surface, and submarine launched all-weather anti-ship missile. Since its first introduction in 1977, it has received a near-total redesign, incorporating new hardware, software, and fuel to improve performance and lethality.
The newest Harpoon Block IIU is an iteration of the Harpoon Block II which incorporated hardware from Boeing’s Joint Direct Attack Munition and Standoff Land Attack Missile. Harpoon Block II has been exported to several countries including India, South Korea, Qatar, and Australia.
The Harpoon Block IIU, a next step in the Block II iteration, refreshes the internal hardware to match demand of the missile system in its various configurations, part of Boeing’s effort to update the Harpoon to to extend its production run.
The test drop, from an F-15SA, was performed at the Point Mugu Sea Range. According to Boeing, “the anti-ship missile successfully achieved the test objectives for the propulsion, guidance, navigation and control systems, and demonstrated desired aerodynamic performance.”
“Completing this test was especially meaningful because all the teams involved — Cruise Missile Systems, F-15 and Boeing Test & Evaluation along with the Navy — were able to work together and accomplish a shared mission to help the U.S. and its allies.”
Joe Gentile, F-15 Test Engineer
Naval News previously reported on Harpoon modernizations being completed as part of a service life extension program (SLEP). RTX will provide supplies and services for the SLEP upgrade as “the sole designer, developer and manufacturer” qualified to deliver Harpoon seekers for production.
Deliveries of the overhauled Block IIU Harpoons are expected in 2026.
