U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of Submarine launched UGM-84L Harpoon Block II anti ship missiles an...
U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of Submarine launched UGM-84L Harpoon Block II anti ship missiles and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $110 million to South Korea.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on November 17, 2015.
The Republic of Korea (ROK) has requested sale of 19 UGM-84L Harpoon Block II All-Up-Round Missiles and 13 Block II upgrade kits.
The Harpoon Block II missiles will supplement ROK Navy's existing Harpoon missile capability. The acquisition of the Harpoon Block II missiles and support will supplement current weapon inventories and bring the ROK Navy's Anti-Surface Warfare performance up to existing regional baselines.
The proposed sale will provide a defensive capability while enhancing interoperability with the United States and other allied forces. Sub-launched Harpoon missiles have been used by the ROK since the 1990s. The ROK will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles into its armed forces.
The prime contractor will be the Boeing Company in St. Louis, Missouri. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Developed by McDonnell Douglas, the Harpoon first deployed in 1977, is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system. It has a low-level, sea-skimming cruise trajectory, active radar guidance.
The Harpoon is capable of executing both land-strike and anti-ship missions. The 500-pound blast warhead delivers lethal firepower against a wide variety of land-based targets, including coastal defense sites, surface-to-air missile sites.
With a range in excess of 67 nautical miles, Harpoon is powered by a air-breathing turbojet engine in cruise phase and a solid-propellant booster during launch.
