Question about Harpoon.

[Amarok_73]

Hello,

As we have some argument about it with colleagues, I'd like to ask if there is version of Harpoon missile, that can recognize the ship type by it's radar emission, or can be set to engage specific ship based on it's radar type?

 

[Frederf]

I'm not aware of any anti-radiation capability in any Harpoon missile. Perhaps there is confusion between AGM-84 Harpoon and AGM-88 HARM?

[C3PO]

On 7/1/2022 at 10:26 PM, Amarok_73 said:

Hello,

As we have some argument about it with colleagues, I'd like to ask if there is version of Harpoon missile, that can recognize the ship type by it's radar emission, or can be set to engage specific ship based on it's radar type?

 

AFAIK, the harpoon is pretty indiscriminate in its target selection, certainly in DCS World. Skill is getting the weapon to the ballpark area and making sure nothing else is nearby that might attract its onboard radar. So, in short, I don't believe it can tell the difference between different vessels per se.

[Amarok_73]

Thank You Gentlemen for Your input, and confirmation of my knowledge.

In meanwhile I've asked my firend who was serving as XO on OHP, and he informed me, that indeed, Harpoons are not so selective and have no ARM capability, however they are capable to perform HOJ if the target is actively jamming with ECM.

 

Edited August 9, 2022 by Amarok_73

[Dragon1-1]

It can be set to look for a specific target size, which means it can discriminate by radar reflection to some degree, but it's very coarse. It can tell a speedboat from an oil tanker, but not a  midsize cargo ship from a frigate.

[CBStu]

I have tried a couple of times to learn the Harpoon. The multitude of steps required and the fact that you can't be sure it will hit what you want it to hit keeps me from flying missions that use it. I am probably missing something but basically the huge effort in design and use of super accurate ground target weapons make me wonder why the Harpoon even exists.

[Tom Kazansky]

28 minutes ago, CBStu said:

I have tried a couple of times to learn the Harpoon. The multitude of steps required and the fact that you can't be sure it will hit what you want it to hit keeps me from flying missions that use it. I am probably missing something but basically the huge effort in design and use of super accurate ground target weapons make me wonder why the Harpoon even exists.

Just use AG radar in sea mode to get the range and bearing of the target and feed the Harpoon with that info.

And in the early 1970s there was no super accurate AG weapon and certainly none of that range. That's why Harpoon was developed.

Even in DCS there are not many of those.

[Dragon1-1]

It's certainly a "ripple and pray" kind of weapon. ASMs of that time were all like this or even worse, since they needed to have range way beyond visual. In fact, when you think about it, identifying the target you're shooting at is probably the biggest difficulty in making any sort of long range weapon. You either use GPS coordinates (and forgo hitting moving targets), MITL (difficult both to implement and to employ), or lock on with the radar and hope it goes after the right target.

[Northstar98]

On 7/1/2022 at 10:26 PM, Amarok_73 said:

Hello,

As we have some argument about it with colleagues, I'd like to ask if there is version of Harpoon missile, that can recognize the ship type by it's radar emission, or can be set to engage specific ship based on it's radar type?

Not aware of any variant with passive radar homing. Closest thing to it is a home-on-jam function

 

EDIT: Should've read more than the first post.

Edited July 21, 2022 by Northstar98

[CBStu]

Thanks Tom, I will give that a try.