RGM-84 Harpoon Block II

The RGM-84 Harpoon is a ship-launched, all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile. Its low-level, sea-skimming cruise trajectory, active radar guidance and warhead design assure high survivability and effectiveness.

Harpoon Block II expands the capabilities of the Harpoon anti-ship weapon. Harpoon Block II is capable of executing both anti-ship and land-strike missions.

To strike targets on land and ships in port, the missile uses GPS-aided inertial navigation to hit a designated target aim point. The 227 kilogram blast warhead delivers lethal firepower against a wide variety of land-based targets, including coastal defence sites, surface-to-air missile sites, exposed aircraft, port/industrial facilities and ships in port.

For anti-ship missions, such as open-ocean and near-land, the GPS/INS eliminates midcourse guidance errors en route to the target area. Improved navigation solutions combined with launch system advancements allows a high hit probability against ships very close to land or travelling in congested sea lanes.

Defence has signed a contract with Kongsberg to deliver the Naval Strike Missile (NSM), which will be employed on the Hobart Class destroyers and Anzac Class frigates, replacing the ageing Harpoon anti-ship missile on those ships from 2024. The NSM contains leading-edge technology that will provide Royal Australian Navy ships with a powerful maritime strike capability.