The Navy's network-enabled Harpoon missile has completed a free-flight test.
The test, conducted on Nov.ember 18 at Point Mugu, California, "was the first end-to-end functionality test of an inert Harpoon Block II+ from pre-flight to target impact," according to a Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announcement. "The test proved that the missile could receive target location updates from an F/A-18 while in-flight through its network-enabled data link. It then successfully acquired a moving ship target using its active radar seeker and guided itself autonomously to impact the target."
The network-enabled Harpoon, known as the AGM-84N Harpoon Block II+, will also include a new GPS system for improved navigation. More developmental tests are scheduled for 2016.
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