Harpoon Missiles

About Harpoon Missile:

• The Harpoon (RGM-84/UGM-84/AGM-84) is a U.S.-designed subsonic antiship cruise missile that has been in service since 1977. 
• Numerous variants have been produced since its inception, including air-, ship-, and sub-launched versions. 
• It is currently in service with the armed forces of more than 30 countries, including India.
• Features:
  • It is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system. 
  • A single missile measures 4.5 m in length and weighs 526 kg.
  • Propulsion: Turbojet, solid propellent.
  • Its low-level, sea-skimming cruise trajectory, active radar guidance, and warhead design assure high survivability and effectiveness.
  • It is capable of executing both land-strike and anti-ship missions.
  • This missile is fitted with a heavy 221-kilogram penetration blast warhead. 
  • It uses GPS-aided inertial navigation to hit a designated target aimpoint.
  • Range: 90-240 km

Q1: What is a Cruise Missile?

Cruise missiles are unmanned vehicles that are propelled by jet engines, much like an airplane. They can be launched from ground, air, or sea platforms. Cruise missiles remain within the atmosphere for the duration of their flight and can fly as low as a few meters off the ground. Flying low to the surface of the earth expends more fuel but makes a cruise missile very difficult to detect. 

Source: Taiwan Receives First Shipment of Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile Systems That Can Complicate Chinese Attack