South Korea seeks UGM-84L Harpoon missiles from US*

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale of 18 UGM-84L Harpoon Block II All-Up-Round Missiles to South Korea.

The estimated $84m foreign military sale (FMS) programme also includes options for associated parts, equipment, logistical support and training.

The proposed package includes one UGM-84L Harpoon telemetry exercise section, containers, guidance control units (GCU) spares, recertification and reconfiguration support, as well as spare and repair parts.

Additional support requested along with the sale, includes tools and tool sets, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, as well as other related elements of logistics and programme support.

The potential sale of Harpoon Block II missiles is expected to boost the Republic of Korea Navy's (ROK) existing anti-ship missile capability and support in overseas contingency operations.

Apart from enhancing ROK's naval anti-surface warfare performance, the capability will also improve interoperability with the US and other allied forces while providing a superior defensive edge.

Boeing will serve as the prime contractor.

The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile, manufactured by Boeing, to conduct both land-strike and anti-ship missions against a wide variety of targets.

Designed to provide accurate long-range guidance for land and ship targets, the missile also provides protection to coastal defence sites, surface-to-air missile sites, exposed aircraft, port/industrial facilities and ships in port.

Featuring the low-cost inertial measuring unit from the Joint Direct Attack Munition program, the missile is also equipped with the mission computer, as well as integrated global positioning system/inertial navigation system and the GPS antenna and receiver, from the Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Response missile.

The blast warhead can be launched from all existing Harpoon missile system platforms or the new Advanced Harpoon Weapon Control System and enables users to differentiate target ships from islands or other nearby land masses or vessels.

* Notícia publicada a Naval Technology. La venda de míssils Harpoon a Corea del Sud dóna, a qui sàpiga llegir entre línies, unes quantes pistes. Sabent que la l'armada de Corea del Nord són patrulleres, llanxes d'atac ràpid i submarins, els Harpoon tenen un ús limitat. Creiem doncs, que la seva adquisició va més pel camí de preparar-se contra el creixement de l'Armada xinesa.