The ground-based launch system for Harpoon missiles will go to Taiwan as part of its $2.37 billion deal to buy 100 launchers, 400 missiles, and related equipment.

The Navy recently achieved a significant milestone in the development of the Harpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS) after the weapon system successfully engaged and sank a maritime target.  

The weapon system is headed for Taiwan to defend the island nation in the event of a Chinese amphibious invasion. 

A Successful Test of the Harpoon Coastal Defense System

The Navy’s test was specifically designed to validate the ground-based Harpoon system’s capacity to lock on and successfully engage maritime targets.  

During the test, HCDS missiles fired from launch engaged maritime targets in littoral waters. 

“The flawless execution of this test is a direct testament to the unparalleled expertise and relentless dedication demonstrated by the entire team,” Navy Captain Sarah Abbott, PMX-201 program manager, said in a service news release. 

The successful engagement was the result of 48 hours of intensive testing in July by the Navy and Boeing. The test took place in Point Mugu Sea Range off the coast of California. 

“In the face of complex technical requirements and tight schedules, the team’s cohesive effort and proactive problem-solving ensured that every critical parameter was met,” Cpt. Abbott added.  

About Harpoon Missiles

The Harpoon missile is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile. It flies close to the water to avoid detection and interception. Equipped with advanced electronics, the Harpoon can change course mid-flight. It can hit targets at 77 miles (67 nautical miles) and packs a 500 lbs blast fragmentation warhead.

The missiles can be launched from:

• Coastal defense batteries and surface ships. The RGM-84 has a solid-fuel rocket booster that detaches when expended.
• Submarines. The UGM-84 has a solid-fuel rocket booster and is enclosed in a container so it can be launched through a torpedo tube.
• Fixed-wing aircraft. The AGM-84 does not have a solid-fuel rocket booster.

The Taiwan Harpoon Deal

The Harpoon Coastal Defense System will eventually head to Taiwan as part of its $2.37 billion deal to buy 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems, 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II anti-ship missiles, and related equpiment.

Taiwan agreed to the deal in 2020, with the US Navy Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) signing on its behalf. Such a move was likely the result of the tricky diplomatic situation around the sovereignty of the island nation.  

Taipei lives with the constant danger of a Chinese invasion. The two countries used to be one, but the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949 led to the creation of the island nation of Taiwan by Chinese refugees who sought to escape the wrath of the communist forces.  

Beijing follows an official policy of reunification. Indeed, the Chinese leadership has stated that bringing Taiwan back to the embrace of mainland China is its highest priority. And although Beijing has expressed a desire to achieve such a reunification through peaceful means, the Chinese military has been preparing for an invasion. Chinese aircraft, warships, and landing craft often train around Taiwan, simulating amphibious operations.  

In response, Taipei has been spending big to bolster its anti-ship defenses. The Taiwanese military has hundreds of anti-ship missiles, including ship-based and land-based variants of the US-made Harpoon missiles. Boeing has delivered at least five HCDS launchers and a radar vehicle to the Taiwanese military. 

The Harpoon Coastal Defense System and Taiwan’s other munitions will complicate any Chinese military plan to seize the island nation by force.  

About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou   

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University, an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a JD from Boston College Law School. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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