OVERVIEW: The AGM-84G Harpoon ICR is an air launched, turbo-jet powered, solid-fuel, sea-skimming, long range, radar guided anti-ship missile equipped with a 221 kilogram warhead.

DETAILS: The AGM-84 Harpoon is the primary anti-surface weapon used by many Western navies.  Although intended initially as an air launched weapon, it was quickly adapted for use by both ships and submarines. 

	A typical engagement by an aircraft begins with the launching aircraft being cued to the target position either through onboard sensors, or via reporting from other targeting platforms using passive or active means.  The launching aircraft will then typically approach the target from below the radar horizon.  Prior to launch, the radar is programed for a large, medium or small acquisition window.  Although a smaller acquisition window requires more precise  
targeting data, it also minimizes target warning time. Prior to launch, the Harpoon is also programmed to one of two modes: The Range and Bearing Launch (RBL) or the Bearing Only mode. In the RBL mode, the AGM-84G Harpoon descends to a low cruise altitude immediately after launch, using its radar altimeter and inertial navigation to guide it to a preselected point near the calculated target position.  It then activates its frequency-agile, active J-band (10 to 20 GHz) radar seeker to guide it to the target.  In the Bearing Only launch mode, the Harpoon is launched down a target bearing and the radar seeker is activated shortly after launch.  If no suitable target is found, the Harpoon switches to a search pattern and self-destructs if it fails to acquire a target.

	In either mode, once the seeker acquires a target, the missile enters the terminal attack phase, approaching to approximately 1.5 km from the target before executing a "pop-up" maneuver that terminates with a dive into the target.

Specifications:

Speed:	0.85 mach
Range:	222 km
Weight: 544 kg
 

NOTES: IOC 1998. The AGM-84G is an upgrade to the AGM-84D.  Like the Block 1C, it includes a sea-skimming attack profile in addition to the pop-up attack profile and improved ECCM capabilities. It also allows the firing platform to program the missile to use multiple "dog legs" in its flight path, helping the firing unit to conceal its position.  It also incorporates the altered seeker pattern of the canceled AGM-84F Block 1D, giving it the capability to re-attack targets missed on the first pass.


SOURCES: Friedman, Norman, "The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997-1998, Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1997, pg. 255-6 ; "RGM-84 Harpoon/SLAM - Smart Weapons." Federation Of American Scientists. Accessed August 21, 2015. http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/smart/RGM-84.htm ; Boeing. "Backgrounder: Harpoon Block II." Last modified March 2013. http://www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/defensespace/missiles/harpoon/docs/HarpoonBlockIIBackgrounder.pdf ; "MCDONNELL-DOUGLAS RGM-84L HARPOON and RGM-84E SLAM." Air Power Australia. Accessed August 21, 2015. http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-Harpoon.html ; "Harpoon." Weaponsystems.net. Accessed August 21, 2015. http://weaponsystems.net/weaponsystem/HH10%20-%20Harpoon.html ; "Boeing RGM/RGM/UGM-84 Harpoon." Designation-Systems.Net. Accessed August 21, 2015. "Boeing AGM/RGM/UGM-84 Harpoon." Designation-Systems.Net. Accessed August 21, 2015. http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-84.html.

