Harpoon Block II+

Abstract

The Harpoon Block II+ missile provides the Department of Navy (DON) with an expanded capability. Harpoon Block II+ missile kits are a Net Enabled, Air-Launched, Anti-ship Cruise weapon with the ability to receive in-flight updates that improve the targeting and engagement of moving maritime targets. This system utilizes global positioning to provide in-flight updates coupled with an active radar seeker to provide accurate targeting. The Harpoon seeker upgrade effort will modernize current seeker configurations to increase the precision of targeting. Currently, Harpoon missiles contain 3700-3. The 3700-series seekers operate by sequentially searching a pre-defined Area of Uncertainty (AOU). The seeker was designed to detect, acquire and track any surface target that happens to be in that zone. A newer seeker provides value to the warfighter through significant improvements in the sequential search radar seekers' probability of acquiring the intended target. Improvements in 3700-4+ Electronic Protection capability significantly increases the probability of engaging a valid surface target in a complex environment. The Harpoon seeker upgrade will develop a new seeker manufacturing process to convert old analog 3700-3 seekers to new digital seekers. The new seekers, "3700-4+" will implement the -4 functionality using newer, smaller and more reliable parts. The 3700-4+ seekers will replace the legacy Mode Control Board (MCB) with a Mode Control Expanded Interface (MCEI) board. The five circuit boards from the 3700-3 seeker will be replaced with four new boards. In order to allow better seeker functionality and enhanced target selection algorithms, and the Guidance Control Unit (GCU).

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2019
• Source ID: 1843_0604227N_7_1319_PB_2019

Tags

Readers

• Missile Defense Systems.
• Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

• Microelectronics
• Microelectronics - Microelectromechanical Systems