Abu Mahdi (missile) vs Harpoon (missile)

FORCETALLY

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ACruise & anti-ship missiles

Abu Mahdi (missile)

Cruise missile

Harpoon (missile) — licensed reference photograph

BCruise & anti-ship missiles

Harpoon (missile)

Anti-ship missile

Credit

Avriette · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source ↗ · Modified

First system

Second system

Measured figures

Head to head

5 of 74 rows sourced on both sides

—

4.6msurface- and submarine-launched

Length

All recorded figures & sources

3.8 m

air-launched

Single source

4.6 m

surface- and submarine-launched

Single source

Configuration

Details

Abu Mahdi (missile) and Harpoon (missile) configuration
Specification	Abu Mahdi (missile)	Harpoon (missile)
Type	Cruise missile^[source]	Anti-ship missile^[source]
Place of origin	Iran^[source]	United States^[source]
In service	20 August 2020^[source]	1977–present^[source]
Used by	Iran^[source]

Warhead	High Explosive^[source]	488 pounds (221 kg)^[source]

Wars	—	Iran–Iraq War Russo-Ukrainian War^[source]

Manufacturer	—	McDonnell Douglas Boeing Defense, Space & Security^[source]

Unit cost	—	US$ 1,406,812 for Harpoon Block II (2020)^[source]

No. built	—	7,500^[source]

Detonation mechanism	—	Impact fuze^[source]

Engine	—	Teledyne CAE J402 turbojet/solid propellant booster for surface and submarine launch; greater than 600 lb f (2,700 N) of thrust^[source]

Flight altitude	—	Sea-skimming^[source]

Guidance system	—	Sea-skimming cruise monitored by radar altimeter , active radar terminal homing^[source]

Launch platform	—	RGM-84A surface ship/TEL-launched AGM-84A air-launched UGM-84A submarine-launched^[source]

Role	—	all-weather, over-the-horizon , anti-ship missile^[source]

Source measurement	—	In 1965, the United States Navy began studies for a missile in the 24-nautical-mile (45 km) range class for use against surfaced submarines . The name Harpoon was assigned to the project. The sinking of the Israeli destroyer Eilat in 1967 by a Soviet-built Styx anti-ship missile shocked senior United States Navy officers, who until then had not appreciated the threat posed by anti-ship missiles. In 1970 Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo Zumwalt accelerated the development of Harpoon as part of his "Project Sixty" initiative, hoping to add much-needed striking power to U.S. surface warships such as the Ticonderoga -class cruiser .^[source]Harpoon (missile) · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Harpoon has also been adapted for carriage on several aircraft, including the P-3 Orion , the P-8 Poseidon , the AV-8B Harrier II , the F/A-18 Hornet and the U.S. Air Force B-52H bombers . The Harpoon was purchased by many nations, including India, Japan, Singapore , South Korea, Taiwan , the United Arab Emirates and most NATO countries.^[source]Harpoon (missile) · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage The Block 1 missiles were designated A/R/UGM-84A in US service and UGM-84B in the UK. Block 1B standard missiles were designated A/R/UGM-84C, Block 1C missiles were designated A/R/UGM-84D. Block 1 used a terminal attack mode that included a pop-up to approximately 5,900 feet (1,800 m) before diving on the target; Block 1B omitted the terminal pop-up; and Block 1C provided a selectable terminal attack mode.^[source]Harpoon (missile) · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage This version featured a larger fuel tank and re-attack capability, allowing it to search for a target again if the initial radar acquisition failed by searching in a clover-leaf pattern, but was not produced in large numbers because its intended mission (warfare with the Warsaw Pact countries of Eastern Europe) was considered to be unlikely following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union . The range is 150 miles (240 km). Block 1D missiles were designated A/RGM-84F.^[source]Harpoon (missile) · Development / Harpoon Block 1D; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage This version entered service in 1999, gives the SLAM a re-attack capability, as well as an image comparison capability similar to the Tomahawk cruise missile ; that is, the weapon can compare the target scene in front of it with an image stored in its onboard computer during terminal phase target acquisition and lock on (this is known as DSMAC ). Block 1G missiles A/R/UGM-84G; the original SLAM-ER missiles were designated AGM-84H (2000-2002) and later ones the AGM-84K (2002 onwards).^[source]Harpoon (missile) · Development / SLAM-ER (Block 1H); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage It increases the ship-launched Harpoon missile's range from the Block II's 70 nmi (81 mi; 130 km) to 167.5 nmi (192.8 mi; 310.2 km), along with a new lighter 300 lb (140 kg) warhead and a more fuel-efficient engine with electronic fuel controls.^[source]Harpoon (missile) · Development / Harpoon Block II+ ER; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In December 1988, a Harpoon launched by an F/A-18 Hornet fighter from the aircraft carrier USS Constellation killed one sailor when it struck the merchant ship Jagvivek , a 250 ft (76 m) long Indian-owned ship, during an exercise at the Pacific Missile Range near Kauai , Hawaii . A Notice to Mariners had been issued warning of the danger, but Jagvivek left port before receiving the communication and subsequently strayed into the test range area, and the Harpoon missile, loaded just with an inert dummy warhead, locked onto it instead of its intended target.^[source]Harpoon (missile) · Operational history; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Source measurement

—

In 1965, the United States Navy began studies for a missile in the 24-nautical-mile (45 km) range class for use against surfaced submarines . The name Harpoon was assigned to the project. The sinking of the Israeli destroyer Eilat in 1967 by a Soviet-built Styx anti-ship missile shocked senior United States Navy officers, who until then had not appreciated the threat posed by anti-ship missiles. In 1970 Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo Zumwalt accelerated the development of Harpoon as part of his "Project Sixty" initiative, hoping to add much-needed striking power to U.S. surface warships such as the Ticonderoga -class cruiser .^[source]Harpoon (missile) · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The Harpoon has also been adapted for carriage on several aircraft, including the P-3 Orion , the P-8 Poseidon , the AV-8B Harrier II , the F/A-18 Hornet and the U.S. Air Force B-52H bombers . The Harpoon was purchased by many nations, including India, Japan, Singapore , South Korea, Taiwan , the United Arab Emirates and most NATO countries.^[source]Harpoon (missile) · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

The Block 1 missiles were designated A/R/UGM-84A in US service and UGM-84B in the UK. Block 1B standard missiles were designated A/R/UGM-84C, Block 1C missiles were designated A/R/UGM-84D. Block 1 used a terminal attack mode that included a pop-up to approximately 5,900 feet (1,800 m) before diving on the target; Block 1B omitted the terminal pop-up; and Block 1C provided a selectable terminal attack mode.^[source]Harpoon (missile) · Development; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

This version featured a larger fuel tank and re-attack capability, allowing it to search for a target again if the initial radar acquisition failed by searching in a clover-leaf pattern, but was not produced in large numbers because its intended mission (warfare with the Warsaw Pact countries of Eastern Europe) was considered to be unlikely following the Dissolution of the Soviet Union . The range is 150 miles (240 km). Block 1D missiles were designated A/RGM-84F.^[source]Harpoon (missile) · Development / Harpoon Block 1D; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

This version entered service in 1999, gives the SLAM a re-attack capability, as well as an image comparison capability similar to the Tomahawk cruise missile ; that is, the weapon can compare the target scene in front of it with an image stored in its onboard computer during terminal phase target acquisition and lock on (this is known as DSMAC ). Block 1G missiles A/R/UGM-84G; the original SLAM-ER missiles were designated AGM-84H (2000-2002) and later ones the AGM-84K (2002 onwards).^[source]Harpoon (missile) · Development / SLAM-ER (Block 1H); only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

It increases the ship-launched Harpoon missile's range from the Block II's 70 nmi (81 mi; 130 km) to 167.5 nmi (192.8 mi; 310.2 km), along with a new lighter 300 lb (140 kg) warhead and a more fuel-efficient engine with electronic fuel controls.^[source]Harpoon (missile) · Development / Harpoon Block II+ ER; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

In December 1988, a Harpoon launched by an F/A-18 Hornet fighter from the aircraft carrier USS Constellation killed one sailor when it struck the merchant ship Jagvivek , a 250 ft (76 m) long Indian-owned ship, during an exercise at the Pacific Missile Range near Kauai , Hawaii . A Notice to Mariners had been issued warning of the danger, but Jagvivek left port before receiving the communication and subsequently strayed into the test range area, and the Harpoon missile, loaded just with an inert dummy warhead, locked onto it instead of its intended target.^[source]Harpoon (missile) · Operational history; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Reported operators	—	Reported operator · Royal Australian Navy Reported operator · Royal Australian Air Force Reported operator · Belgian Navy Reported operator · Brazilian Air Force Reported operator · Royal Canadian Navy Reported operator · Chilean Navy Reported operator · Chilean Air Force Reported operator · Royal Danish Navy Reported operator · Egyptian Air Force Reported operator · Egyptian Navy Reported operator · German Navy Reported operator · Hellenic Air Force Reported operator · Hellenic Navy Reported operator · Indian Air Force Reported operator · Indian Navy Reported operator · Indonesian Navy Reported operator · Islamic Republic of Iran Navy Reported operator · Israeli Air Force Reported operator · Israeli Navy Reported operator · Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Reported operator · Royal Malaysian Air Force Reported operator · Mexican Navy Reported operator · Royal Moroccan Air Force Reported operator · Royal Netherlands Navy Reported operator · Pakistan Air Force Reported operator · Pakistan Navy Reported operator · Polish Navy Reported operator · Portuguese Air Force Reported operator · Portuguese Navy Reported operator · Qatar Emiri Air Force Reported operator · Republic of Korea Air Force Reported operator · Republic of Korea Navy Reported operator · Royal Saudi Air Force Reported operator · Royal Saudi Navy Reported operator · Republic of Singapore Air Force Reported operator · Republic of Singapore Navy Reported operator · Spanish Air and Space Force Reported operator · Spanish Navy Reported operator · Republic of China Air Force Reported operator · Republic of China Navy Reported operator · Royal Thai Navy Reported operator · Turkish Air Force Reported operator · Turkish Navy Reported operator · United Arab Emirates Navy Reported operator · Royal Navy Reported operator · Royal Air Force Reported operator · Ukrainian Navy Reported operator · United States Air Force Reported operator · United States Navy Reported operator · United States Marine Corps Reported operator · United States Coast Guard