Key Points
- The U.S. Navy said it completed the final planned flight test of the Harpoon Block II Update on Jan. 16, concluding system-level flight testing for the obsolescence update.
- The test validated the missile’s land-attack profile following earlier trials against guidance performance and moving maritime targets, with initial deliveries planned later this year.
The United States Navy said it completed the third and final planned flight test of the Harpoon Block II Update Obsolescence Update program on Jan. 16, concluding the final phase of the missile’s system-level flight test campaign.
The test was conducted by the Navy’s Precision Strike Weapons program office, PMA-201, in partnership with Boeing. According to the Navy, the event took place at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and the Point Mugu Sea Range, and demonstrated a successful Coastal Target Suppression mission against a representative land target.
The Navy said all test objectives were met based on preliminary assessments. The event marked the final flight test in a three-part series designed to validate performance of the Harpoon Block II Update across different mission profiles.
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“This milestone reflects the strength of the integrated government and industry team and their commitment to delivering reliable, relevant capability to the fleet,” said Capt. Sarah Abbott, PMA-201 program manager.
During the flight, the missile was launched from an F-15 aircraft at approximately 12,000 feet above ground level. The Navy said the weapon then descended to an initial waypoint altitude of about 5,000 feet before proceeding toward the target area. In the terminal phase, the missile executed a steep dive prior to impact, simulating a coastal engagement scenario.
The Harpoon Block II Update flight test campaign consisted of three planned events. According to the Navy, the first test focused on verifying guidance and aerodynamic performance. The second test demonstrated the missile’s ability to engage a moving maritime surface target. The final test confirmed effectiveness against a land-based target, underscoring the weapon’s multi-mission role.
“This achievement reflects the coordinated efforts of professionals across program management, engineering, logistics, test and evaluation, aircrew, ground support, and range teams, alongside our industry partners,” said Bob Cress, the SLAM ER and HIIU development team lead.
Following completion of the final flight test, system-level testing for the Harpoon Block II Update Obsolescence Update is nearly complete. The Navy said initial deliveries of the updated system are planned for later this year.
The Harpoon Block II Update focuses on replacing obsolete components while maintaining compatibility with existing launch platforms. The effort is intended to extend the service life of the weapon and support continued production and sustainment for U.S. and allied users.
The Harpoon missile family has been in service for more than five decades and remains in use by the U.S. Navy and over 30 foreign partners. The system supports anti-ship and land-strike missions across multiple platforms, including aircraft and surface combatants.
