Naval Systems

Harpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS)

Also known as
  • HCDS
  • Harpoon Coastal Defense System Launch System
  • Harpoon coastal defense system
  • RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Coastal Defense System
  • Harpoon coastal defense launcher

Harpoon 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.

Harpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS), Mobile coastal anti-ship missile system, Naval Systems
Image source: RDN Mobile Missile Battery Image

Role in Conflicts

2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Area DenialLong-Range StrikeDeterrence

The United States funded two Harpoon coastal defense systems for Ukraine in June 2022; U.S. officials said the package involved truck-mounted launchers to be matched with Harpoon missiles supplied by allies and partners. A later Defense Department briefing confirmed that a recently acquired Harpoon hit a Russian supply ship headed to Snake Island, but public sources do not identify that shot as coming from the two USAI-funded HCDS units.

Role details
Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States; coastal-defense launch systems exported or donor-funded for partner forces
Built by
Boeing
Type
Mobile coastal anti-ship missile system
Service note
2020s export and security-assistance configuration; Ukraine funding announced in 2022
Designer
Boeing / Harpoon Weapon System program
Designed
2020 export-sale configuration publicly notified for Taiwan
Produced
2021 Taiwan HCDS engineering order; 2022 launcher-system production contract expected through December 2028; 2023 missile and support package expected through March 2029

Specifications

System role
Mobile coastal anti-ship missile system for shore-based maritime denial and deterrence
Missile fit
RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II surface-launched missiles in the Taiwan sale notification; Ukraine package described as Harpoon coastal defense systems with allied or partner missiles
Launch elements
Launcher transporter units, launch support structure and canisters, and command-and-launch equipment
Sensor/support elements
Taiwan package includes 25 radar trucks or radar units, containers, support and test equipment, training equipment, technical documentation, field-service support, and logistics support
Missile guidance
Harpoon Block II uses GPS-aided inertial midcourse navigation and active radar terminal guidance
Missile range
Boeing lists Harpoon Block II range as more than 67 nautical miles
Warhead
Boeing lists a 500-pound class blast-fragmentation or penetration high-explosive blast warhead for Harpoon Block II
Variants

Public HCDS records describe a shore-based Harpoon package rather than a new missile body: the launch system, radar trucks, containers, training, and support are integrated around surface-launched Harpoon Block II missiles.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Taiwan HCDS packageForeign Military Sales coastal-defense package

Federal Register and contract records describe up to 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems for Taiwan, including 100 launcher transporter units, 25 radar trucks or units, RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II Update Grade B canister tactical missiles, containers, training, spares, support equipment, field-service support, and publications.

Sources: Federal Register TECRO HCDS notification, DOD HCDS Taiwan contract, DOD Apr. 2023 HCDS missile package contract

Ukraine truck-mounted Harpoon launcher packageSecurity-assistance coastal-defense launchers

U.S. defense officials described the Ukraine package as U.S.-provided Harpoon launchers procured for a truck-mounted capability, with missiles coming from allies and partners.

Sources: DOD Ukraine Harpoon systems announcement, DOD June 2022 Harpoon briefing

Missile Family

HCDS is the shore-based launch-system package for Harpoon anti-ship missiles rather than a separate missile family.

Launched itemItem typeLaunch evidence
Harpoon, Anti-ship cruise missile family, MunitionsHarpoonAnti-ship cruise missile family

Federal Register records describe HCDS as consisting of RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II surface-launched missiles plus launcher transporter units, radar trucks, containers, training, and support.

Sources: Federal Register TECRO HCDS notification

Timeline

Harpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS) Key Events

  1. Taiwan HCDS sale notified to Congress

    The United States notified Congress of a proposed Taiwan sale of up to 100 HCDS packages with RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II missiles, launcher transporter units, radar trucks, containers, training, and support.

    Sources: Federal Register TECRO HCDS notification

  2. Taiwan HCDS engineering order awarded

    Boeing received a U.S. Navy order for Taiwan HCDS non-recurring engineering covering Harpoon Block II Update Grade B canister launch missiles, the HCDS launch system, and Harpoon weapon-station test and production equipment.

    Sources: DOD Sep. 2021 HCDS engineering contract

  3. Boeing HCDS launch-system contract awarded

    A U.S. Navy contract awarded Boeing a not-to-exceed HCDS launch-system order for Taiwan covering 100 launcher transporter units, 25 radar units, and training equipment.

    Sources: DOD HCDS Taiwan contract

  4. Ukraine Harpoon coastal-defense funding announced

    The Defense Department said USAI funding included two Harpoon coastal defense systems for Ukraine, and officials described truck-mounted launchers paired with allied or partner missiles.

    Sources: DOD Ukraine Harpoon systems announcement, DOD June 2022 Harpoon briefing

  5. U.S. official confirms Harpoon hit near Snake Island

    A Defense Department briefing said a recently acquired Harpoon hit a Russian supply ship headed to Snake Island, while not identifying that shot as coming from the two USAI-funded systems.

    Sources: DOD July 2022 Snake Island Harpoon confirmation

  6. Taiwan missile and support package added

    A Boeing contract modification added 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II Update Grade B canister tactical missiles, four exercise missiles, containers, spares, support equipment, training equipment, field-service representatives, publications, and related support for Taiwan HCDS.

    Sources: DOD Apr. 2023 HCDS missile package contract

  7. Taiwan delivery and littoral-command timing reported

    A CNA report hosted by Taiwan's Overseas Community Affairs Council said Taiwan's Navy expected first HCDS deliveries around late 2025 or early 2026, noted five launcher trucks and one radar truck already received by Hai Feng, and tied the system to a planned littoral combatant command.

    Sources: OCAC Taiwan first HCDS shipment report

Media

Harpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS) Videos

Related Weapon Systems
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Sources

Federal Register TECRO HCDS notificationPublisher: Federal Register / U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports HCDS identity, Taiwan sale quantity, RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II missile fit, launcher transporter units, radar trucks, containers, support equipment, training, Boeing as principal contractor, estimated value, and maritime-defense mission framing. | Accessed: 2026-07-13DOD Sep. 2021 HCDS engineering contractPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports Boeing's Taiwan HCDS non-recurring engineering order for Harpoon Block II Update Grade B canister launch missiles, the HCDS launch system, and Harpoon weapon-station test and production equipment. | Accessed: 2026-07-13DOD HCDS Taiwan contractPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports Boeing's March 2022 HCDS launch-system production contract for Taiwan, including 100 launcher transporter units, 25 radar units, training equipment, work locations, and expected completion in December 2028. | Accessed: 2026-07-13DOD Apr. 2023 HCDS missile package contractPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Supports the Taiwan HCDS missile and support package, including 400 RGM-84L-4 Harpoon Block II Update Grade B canister tactical missiles, exercise missiles, containers, spares, support equipment, training equipment, publications, field-service representatives, and March 2029 expected completion. | Accessed: 2026-07-13DOD Ukraine Harpoon systems announcementPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War source for U.S. security assistance funding that included two Harpoon coastal defense systems for Ukraine and identifies coastal defense as a Ukrainian requirement. | Accessed: 2026-07-13DOD June 2022 Harpoon briefingPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War source for U.S. officials describing the Harpoon coastal defense package as U.S.-provided truck-mounted launchers with missiles supplied by allies and partners. | Accessed: 2026-07-13DOD July 2022 Snake Island Harpoon confirmationPublisher: U.S. Department of Defense | Note: Direct 2014 Russia-Ukraine War source for a U.S. official confirming that a recently acquired Harpoon hit a Russian supply ship headed to Snake Island, with a sourcing limit that the briefing does not identify the firing launcher as one of the two USAI-funded HCDS units. | Accessed: 2026-07-13NAVAIR HarpoonPublisher: Naval Air Systems Command | Note: Supports Harpoon as an all-weather over-the-horizon anti-ship missile system launchable from shore batteries, plus launch-mode and guidance background. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Boeing Harpoon Block II product cardPublisher: Boeing | Note: Supports Harpoon Block II launch from mobile coastal defense vehicles, land-based booster need, command-and-launch system elements, guidance, range, propulsion, warhead, and target set. | Accessed: 2026-07-13RDN Mobile Missile Battery ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for a Danish mobile Harpoon coastal-defense missile battery image used as representative HCDS media. | Accessed: 2026-07-13OCAC Taiwan first HCDS shipment reportPublisher: Overseas Community Affairs Council, ROC Taiwan / CNA | Note: Supports Taiwan delivery-status and force-generation context: reported receipt of five launcher trucks and one radar truck, expected first HCDS shipment timing around late 2025 or early 2026, and planned littoral combatant command integration. | Accessed: 2026-07-13SIPRI Arms Transfers DatabasePublisher: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute | Note: Used as the launcher-provided lead for arms-transfer research; exact conflict-use claims in this record are supported by the cited U.S. Department of Defense sources. | Accessed: 2026-07-13