The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has notified Congress about a potential $110m foreign military sale (FMS) of UGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles to the Republic of Korea (ROK).
Approved by the US State Department, the sale covers 19 UGM-84L Harpoon Block II all-up-round missiles, 13 Block II upgrade kits, containers, guidance control units (GCU) spares, recertification and reconfiguration support, spare and repair parts, and tools and tool sets.
The proposed sale also includes support equipment, personnel training and training equipment; publication and technical data, US Government and contractor engineering and logistical support services and associated equipment, parts and logistical support.
The equipment is expected to assist South Korea in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defence capability while enhancing interoperability with the US and other allied forces.
The latest acquisition of the Harpoon Block II missiles is expected to supplement current weapon inventories and increase the ROK Navy’s anti-surface warfare performance to existing regional baselines.
The ROK has been using sub-launched Harpoon missiles since the 1990s.
Boeing is the prime contractor for the FMS programme.
Designed to offer precise long-range guidance for land and ship targets, the Harpoon Block II missiles are capable of executing both land-strike and anti-ship missions against a range of targets.
The Boeing-built, all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile also protects coastal defence sites, surface-to-air missile sites, exposed aircraft, port / industrial facilities and ships within the port.
In May, the US State Department approved an estimated $199m sale of UGM-84L Harpoon Block II Missiles to Japan.
Image: A view of an encapsulated UGM-84 surface-to-surface Harpoon missile being launched from a submarine. Photo: courtesy of US Navy.
