UK casts doubt on Harpoon future beyond 2018

[Saifullah Sani]

The UK could remove the GWS60/Harpoon Block 1C anti-ship missile from Royal Navy (RN) service as early as 2018, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has disclosed.

Withdrawal of Harpoon would leave RN warships without a heavyweight surface-to-surface guided weapon (SSGW), opening up a gap in long-range anti-surface warfare capability.

Fitted to the 13 Type 23 frigates, Harpoon Bock 1C is a turbojet-powered, sea-skimming SSGW cruising at a speed of Mach 0.9. Credited with a maximum range of about 130 km, the missile uses a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing to find and fix its target.

Four Type 45 destroyers are also to be equipped with Harpoon, using redundant equipment transferred from decommissioned Type 22 Batch 3 frigates. The US Naval Air Systems Command issued a notification in June this year of its intention to contract Boeing for a Harpoon Shipboard Command Launch System trans-installation on a Type 45 under a Foreign Military Sales case; according to the MoD, the first Type 45 ship fit will be completed later in 2014, with the remaining three to follow in 2015.

However, a recent contract notice for GWS60/Harpoon in-service support and post-design services has revealed that the system may only remain in service for a further four years. Published by the MoD's Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) on 8 July, the notice confirmed 2018 as the current planned Out of Service Date (OSD) for Harpoon. DE&S further noted that options are being investigated to extend the OSD out to 2020 or 2023, but cautioned that "this is not guaranteed".

The UK currently has no approved programme for a Harpoon replacement. Early studies are being pursued with France for a putative Future Cruise Anti-Ship Weapon, but such a weapon is not intended to enter service until circa 2030.

UK casts doubt on Harpoon future beyond 2018 - IHS Jane's 360

 

[C130]

either buy new Harpoons or get Exocets or RBS-15 MK3s
the U.K can't be that tight on $$

 

[Talha Mateen]

Then they should phase out it.

 

[Echo_419]

The UK could remove the GWS60/Harpoon Block 1C anti-ship missile from Royal Navy (RN) service as early as 2018, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has disclosed.

Withdrawal of Harpoon would leave RN warships without a heavyweight surface-to-surface guided weapon (SSGW), opening up a gap in long-range anti-surface warfare capability.

Fitted to the 13 Type 23 frigates, Harpoon Bock 1C is a turbojet-powered, sea-skimming SSGW cruising at a speed of Mach 0.9. Credited with a maximum range of about 130 km, the missile uses a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing to find and fix its target.

Four Type 45 destroyers are also to be equipped with Harpoon, using redundant equipment transferred from decommissioned Type 22 Batch 3 frigates. The US Naval Air Systems Command issued a notification in June this year of its intention to contract Boeing for a Harpoon Shipboard Command Launch System trans-installation on a Type 45 under a Foreign Military Sales case; according to the MoD, the first Type 45 ship fit will be completed later in 2014, with the remaining three to follow in 2015.

However, a recent contract notice for GWS60/Harpoon in-service support and post-design services has revealed that the system may only remain in service for a further four years. Published by the MoD's Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) on 8 July, the notice confirmed 2018 as the current planned Out of Service Date (OSD) for Harpoon. DE&S further noted that options are being investigated to extend the OSD out to 2020 or 2023, but cautioned that "this is not guaranteed".

The UK currently has no approved programme for a Harpoon replacement. Early studies are being pursued with France for a putative Future Cruise Anti-Ship Weapon, but such a weapon is not intended to enter service until circa 2030.

UK casts doubt on Harpoon future beyond 2018 - IHS Jane's 360

@Abingdonboy,with replacements are you planning for harpoon

 

[KalaGhoda]

harpoon will remain till a new missile inducted. in the right hands, harpoon is still potent.

 

[Abingdonboy]

@Abingdonboy,with replacements are you planning for harpoon

Possibly the US's LRASM whenever the USG clears this for export sales ? Perhaps the naval SCALP that has on the table?


@Penguin @sancho thoughts?

 

[Aepsilons]

@Abingdonboy ,

The LRASM would be perfect for the RN, but you think really the Harpoons will be phased out by 2018?

 

[Abingdonboy]

@Abingdonboy ,

The LRASM would be perfect for the RN, but you think really the Harpoons will be phased out by 2018?

If that's what the RN is saying then I'd be inclined to agree with them. To be honest I don't have a clue about the Harpoon's shelf life.

 

[Echo_419]

Possibly the US's LRASM whenever the USG clears this for export sales ? Perhaps the naval SCALP that has on the table?


@Penguin @sancho thoughts?

Why doesn't UK go for co-development for a cruise missile with the French or Germans,a sort of pan European Common cruise missile

 

[Talha Mateen]

Pakistan has a good chance of Acquiring all of the stockpiles of Harpoon Block-Is from all over the world and upgrade them locally with booster rockets for VLS launch.

 

[ashok321]

Pakistan has a good chance of Acquiring all of the stockpiles of Harpoon Block-Is from all over the world and upgrade them locally with booster rockets for VLS launch.

Not without US "Ok"

 

[Talha Mateen]

Not without US "Ok"

Yes for Sure.

I am sure all of the countries might just give away for Free to Pak.

 

[ashok321]

Yes for Sure.

I am sure all of the countries might just give away for Free to Pak.

Whether free or "Purchase"
Its "end user agreement" that would be violated by a country which sells such items to any other non approved US nation.

 

[Abingdonboy]

Pakistan has a good chance of Acquiring all of the stockpiles of Harpoon Block-Is from all over the world and upgrade them locally with booster rockets for VLS launch.

Doubtful, if they were able to be upgraded they would be in their current nations- they are coming to the end of their shelf lives, what makes you think Pakistan could pull off some miracle no other nation in the would could?

 

[SQ8]

Doubtful, if they were able to be upgraded they would be in their current nations- they are coming to the end of their shelf lives, what makes you think Pakistan could pull off some miracle no other nation in the would could?

In terms of procurement or the upgrades?