Munitions

AGM-84D Harpoon

Also known as
  • AGM-84D
  • AGM-84D Block IC
  • AGM-84D Harpoon Block IC
  • Harpoon Block IC
  • Harpoon Block 1C
  • AGM/RGM/UGM-84D Harpoon

AGM-84D Harpoon is the air-launched Block IC member of the U.S. Harpoon anti-ship missile family. Official Navy and NAVAIR sources describe the Harpoon as an all-weather, over-the-horizon, sea-skimming weapon with active radar terminal homing, and NAVAIR documented a P-8A Poseidon live-fire test of a Harpoon AGM-84D Block IC missile from an external station.

AGM-84D Harpoon, Air-launched anti-ship cruise missile, Munitions
Image source: AGM-84D Harpoon
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Built by
Boeing
Type
Air-launched anti-ship cruise missile

Specifications

Role
All-weather over-the-horizon anti-ship cruise missile
Launch mode
Air-launched Harpoon Block IC missile
Guidance
Mid-course guidance with active radar terminal homing
Flight profile
Low-level sea-skimming cruise with terminal sea-skim or pop-up options
Range
More than 67 nautical miles on the Harpoon family fact file
Warhead
U.S. Navy fact file lists a 500-pound class warhead
Length
U.S. Navy fact file lists Harpoon missile length at about 12.5 feet
Variants

The AGM prefix identifies the air-launched Block IC missile; the same D-series update also appears in surface- and submarine-launched Harpoon designations.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Harpoon, Anti-ship cruise missile family, MunitionsHarpoonFamily entry

Catalog family page for Harpoon variants, including coastal, ship-launched, submarine-launched, and donor-supplied conflict-use contexts.

Sources: Harpoon Missile

RGM-84D HarpoonSurface-launched Block IC family member

RGM designations cover ship or surface-launched Harpoon missiles in the same D-series Block IC family.

Sources: Designation Systems: AGM/RGM/UGM-84 Harpoon

UGM-84D HarpoonSubmarine-launched Block IC family member

UGM designations cover encapsulated submarine-launched Harpoon missiles in the same D-series Block IC family.

Sources: Designation Systems: AGM/RGM/UGM-84 Harpoon

ATM-84D / CATM-84DTraining missile designations

Designation references list ATM and captive-air-training versions associated with Harpoon air-launch training and certification.

Sources: Designation Systems: AGM/RGM/UGM-84 Harpoon

Carrier Aircraft

Official test reports and imagery document the AGM-84D on maritime patrol, bomber, and tactical aircraft rather than as a standalone battlefield system.

CarrierCarrier typeCarriage evidence
P-8 Poseidon maritime-patrol aircraft, Maritime patrol aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsP-8 Poseidon maritime-patrol aircraftMaritime patrol aircraft

NAVAIR says a P-8A Poseidon successfully fired a Harpoon AGM-84D Block IC missile from station 10 during live-fire testing.

Sources: P-8A Poseidon fires Harpoon, hits mark

F/A-18 Hornet (Tactical), Carrier-capable multirole strike fighter, Aircraft & UAVsF/A-18 Hornet (Tactical)Carrier-capable strike fighter

DVIDS imagery from MCAS Iwakuni shows a Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet armed with AGM-84D Harpoon missiles during a MAG-12 training exercise.

Sources: MAG-12 Harpoon Training Exercise Image

B-52 Stratofortress, Long-range heavy bomber, Aircraft & UAVsB-52 StratofortressLong-range heavy bomber

A U.S. Air Force photo caption shows a B-52H Stratofortress carrying an AGM-84D Harpoon missile.

Sources: AGM-84D Harpoon

Block IC Context

AGM-84D is most useful to read as a launch-mode-specific member of the Harpoon Block IC family. The exact AGM-84D context is supported most strongly by design, test, and carrier-aircraft evidence.

TopicDocumented detailWhy it matters
DesignationAGM identifies the air-launched missile; RGM and UGM mark surface and submarine launch modes in the same Harpoon family.Adjacent launch-mode designations are separated instead of blending all Harpoon variants into one operational claim.
Guidance and attack profileOfficial Navy data describes Harpoon as an over-the-horizon missile using mid-course guidance, active radar terminal homing, and low-level sea-skimming attack profiles.The specifications focus on guidance, range class, and maritime strike role rather than platform-specific performance guesses.
Aircraft integrationNAVAIR, Air Force, Navy, and DVIDS records show AGM-84D carriage or firing from P-8A, B-52H, P-8A loading contexts, and F/A-18D training.Carrier-aircraft links are sourced to official test reports and imagery for the exact AGM-84D designation.

Sources: Harpoon Missile; Designation Systems: AGM/RGM/UGM-84 Harpoon; P-8A Poseidon fires Harpoon, hits mark; AGM-84D Harpoon; MAG-12 Harpoon Training Exercise Image.

Timeline

AGM-84D Harpoon Key Events

  1. B-52H carriage documented

    A U.S. Air Force image caption shows a B-52H Stratofortress carrying an AGM-84D Harpoon missile over the Pacific Ocean.

    Sources: AGM-84D Harpoon

  2. P-8A live-fire test

    NAVAIR reported that a P-8A Poseidon successfully fired a Harpoon AGM-84D Block IC missile from station 10 during a live-fire test.

    Sources: P-8A Poseidon fires Harpoon, hits mark

  3. Marine Corps loading exercise

    DVIDS imagery from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni shows an F/A-18D Hornet armed with AGM-84D Harpoon missiles during a MAG-12 training exercise.

    Sources: MAG-12 Harpoon Training Exercise Image

Media

AGM-84D Harpoon Images

AGM-84D Harpoon, Air-launched anti-ship cruise missile, Munitions - view 1
Source: 171129-N-VA915-147
AGM-84D Harpoon, Air-launched anti-ship cruise missile, Munitions - view 2
Source: AGM-84D Harpoon
Related Weapon Systems
Harpoon, Anti-ship cruise missile family, MunitionsMunitionsHarpoonAnti-ship cruise missile familyHarpoon is a U.S.-origin anti-ship cruise missile family used from aircraft, surface ships, submarines, and coastal launchers. The family combines sea-skimming flight with active radar terminal homing, while Block II adds GPS-aided inertial navigation for littoral anti-ship and land-attack missions and Block II+ adds a network-enabled upgrade path. Cataloged conflict use ranges from Iranian and Saudi naval launches in the late Cold War and Gulf War period to truck-mounted RGM-84 coastal defense missiles supplied for Ukraine's Black Sea defense.
Harpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS), Mobile coastal anti-ship missile system, Naval SystemsNaval SystemsHarpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS)Mobile coastal anti-ship missile systemHarpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS) is a land-based Harpoon launch-system package built around mobile launcher transporter units, radar trucks, command-and-launch equipment, and RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II missiles. U.S. records identify Boeing as the principal contractor for Taiwan's HCDS sale, document follow-on launcher and missile-package contracts, and separately record two Harpoon coastal defense systems funded for Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion.
P-8 Poseidon maritime-patrol aircraft, Maritime patrol aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsP-8 Poseidon maritime-patrol aircraftMaritime patrol aircraftThe Boeing P-8 Poseidon is a modified 737-800ERX-derived maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft built for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, intelligence collection, and broad-area maritime-domain awareness. Official sources tie the family to A-size sonobuoys, Mk 54 torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and national designations including P-8A, P-8I Neptune, and Poseidon MRA1; conflict reporting places P-8s in South China Sea air-intercept incidents, 2020 Iran-crisis surveillance, and Indian Navy Operation Sindoor ISR support.
Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile, Ship self-defense missile, MunitionsMunitionsEvolved Sea Sparrow MissileShip self-defense missileThe Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile is a NATO-cooperative ship self-defense missile family built by Raytheon for surface combatants and carrier self-defense. U.S. Navy, RTX, and NATO Seasparrow sources describe it as a medium-range guided weapon for anti-ship cruise missiles, aircraft, drones, and maneuvering surface threats; documented combat use includes USS Mason's 2016 Yemen self-defense engagement and Red Sea crisis firings against Houthi threats.
P-3C Orion patrol aircraft, Maritime patrol aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsP-3C Orion patrol aircraftMaritime patrol aircraftThe P-3C Orion is the armed maritime-patrol member of the U.S. Navy's land-based P-3 family, built by Lockheed for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, mine warfare, surveillance, and overland ISR. Official Navy and wing-history sources tie P-3C service to Desert Storm, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and 2014 Operation Inherent Resolve, including Maverick and SLAM-capable configurations as the fleet later transitioned to the P-8A Poseidon.

Sources

Harpoon MissilePublisher: U.S. Navy | Note: Supports Harpoon family background, Boeing contractor context, air-launch role, guidance, range, warhead, dimensions, service-entry date, and other general specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-29P-8A Poseidon fires Harpoon, hits markPublisher: NAVAIR | Note: Supports AGM-84D Harpoon Block IC background, P-8A live-fire integration, and the missile's air-launched anti-ship profile in Navy test reporting. | Accessed: 2026-06-29Designation Systems: AGM/RGM/UGM-84 HarpoonPublisher: Designation-Systems.net | Note: Supports Harpoon designation history, Block IC D-series context, and adjacent RGM, UGM, ATM, and CATM designations. | Accessed: 2026-06-29AGM-84D HarpoonPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports image provenance and the captioned B-52H Stratofortress carriage of the AGM-84D Harpoon missile. | Accessed: 2026-06-29171129-N-VA915-147Publisher: U.S. Navy | Note: Supports image provenance and the P-8A Harpoon onload caption for the AGM-84D Harpoon missile. | Accessed: 2026-06-29MAG-12 Harpoon Training Exercise ImagePublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance and the F/A-18D Hornet training context for AGM-84D Harpoon missiles at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. | Accessed: 2026-06-29AGM-84D Harpoon Missile at MCAS IwakuniPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and licensing context for the AGM-84D Harpoon missile image from a Marine Corps training exercise. | Accessed: 2026-06-29