The US Navy has announced the delivery of the 300th and final Harpoon anti-ship missile from its “Lot 91” contract with Boeing. This milestone marks the end of a major production focused on Foreign Military Sales (FMS), particularly to allied nations and partners around the world, as reported by the American site Army Recognition.
The Lot 91 contract was specifically structured to support Foreign Military Sales, meaning that the majority of these 300 missiles are destined for allied forces rather than the United States. This agreement aligns with the American strategy of using Foreign Military Sales to keep factories running and control costs. It also helps to enhance the maritime power of allied countries, many of which have old or limited quantities of anti-ship missiles.
The missiles delivered under the Lot 91 agreement are the Harpoon Block II variant, the most advanced and modern version of the system in production. This variant incorporates GPS-assisted inertial navigation, a crucial improvement that expands the weapon’s mission envelope beyond its original anti-ship role.
The integration of GPS into Block II allows the missile to follow pre-programmed routes to fixed coordinates and engage ground targets with the same missile used for anti-ship strikes. This flexibility has made Block II the preferred export variant for navies and air forces seeking a single solution for maritime control and land attack missions.
In total, nearly 6,000 Harpoon missiles have been delivered since 1977, launched from the air, surface, submarines, and during exercises. These deliveries have been made to 30 partner countries worldwide, demonstrating the reliability and effectiveness of the system. The demand for systems like the Harpoon has remained stable for over five decades, even as navies worldwide work on next-generation alternatives.
Boeing has always been the primary manufacturer of the Harpoon, and Lot 91 is one of the most recent productions. While the US Navy is seeking replacements for the future, foreign sales have allowed production to continue, ensuring that allied countries receive new missiles rather than using their old stocks.
