The event demonstrated a successful Coastal Target Suppression mission against a representative land target, with all test objectives met based on preliminary assessments. “This milestone reflects the strength of the integrated government and industry team and their commitment to delivering reliable, relevant capability to the fleet,” said Capt. Sarah Abbott, PMA-201 program manager.
During the mission, the missile executed multiple altitude changes to simulate a coastal engagement after launch from an F-15 at approximately 12,000 feet above ground level. It descended to an initial waypoint altitude of 5,000 feet before proceeding to the target area and performing a steep terminal dive prior to impact.
The three-event flight test series progressively validated system performance across mission sets, including guidance and aerodynamics, engagement of a moving maritime surface target, and effectiveness against a land-based target. “This achievement reflects the coordinated efforts of professionals across program management, engineering, logistics, test and evaluation, aircrew, ground support, and range teams, alongside our industry partners,” said Bob Cress, SLAM ER/HIIU development team lead.
Following the final test, system-level flight testing for the obsolescence update is nearly complete, with initial deliveries planned for later this year. The update builds on the Harpoon’s more than 50-year legacy, supporting continued production and use by the U.S. Navy and more than 30 foreign partners for anti-ship and land-strike missions.
