The initial purpose of the Harpoon was to provide a high-subsonic, long-range, sea-skimming, over-the-horizon missile capable of striking enemy warships with lethal accuracy. The transition to Harpoon Block II marked a significant shift in the missile's operational capabilities as it was adapted to confer upon the Harpoon an anti-ship capability in littoral or coastal waters. | Interesting Engineering

The Harpoon Block IC proved that a single, sea-skimming missile could threaten even heavily defended warships with precision and reliability. With an estimated unit cost of around USD 1.2–1.5 million in the 1990s, every launch represented a serious strategic commitment. One trigger pull meant burning a million dollars—because missing was never an option. ⚓🔥 🇺🇸 #HarpoonMissile #NavalWarfare #AntiShipMissile #DefenseIndustry #navy | Navy Arsenal