Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles Now Part of Ukraine's Arsenal
The Ukrainian Navy has officially integrated the Harpoon anti-ship missile into its forces. The system delivered to Ukraine is a containerized launch variant, housed within a maritime shipping container and equipped with four launch tubes. This transfer was first confirmed in the spring of 2022, and by the summer of that year, Ukrainian officials announced that the Harpoon missiles were on active combat duty.
On July 5, 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to the Odesa region for a meeting with the leadership of the Ukrainian Navy. Footage from that visit visibly shows Harpoon missiles, confirming their deployment in Ukrainian military operations. These missiles are manufactured by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, a division of Boeing based in Arlington, Virginia. Their arrival marks a significant upgrade to Ukraine's coastal defense capabilities.
Technical Specifications of the Harpoon Missile
In service since 1977, the Harpoon missile boasts the following technical characteristics:
- Missile length: 4.63 meters (standard version), 3.85 meters (air-launched version)
- Missile diameter: 34.29 cm
- Wingspan: 91 cm
- Missile weight: 680.4 kg (standard version), 526.2 kg (air-launched version)
- Warhead weight: 221 kg
- Operational range: over 124 km
The main baseline variants of the Harpoon missile include the AGM-84, designed for air launch; the RGM-84, used for launch from surface ships and ground-based launchers; and the UGM-84, intended for submarine launch. Additionally, Ukraine has tested and prepared an interceptor missile designed to counter ballistic threats.
The integration of Harpoon missiles into the Ukrainian Navy significantly strengthens the fleet's ability to counter maritime threats. This weapon system, built to effectively engage enemy vessels, is poised to become a critical asset in Ukraine's defensive operations, particularly amid the ongoing armed conflict. Given Ukraine's strategic position on the Black Sea, the presence of these missiles could alter the regional balance of power.