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The sea-skimming Harpoon provides the RAAF F-111 with a potent Meantime stake capability Harpoon allows this 1000nm+ radius low level penetrator to attack shipping from below the radar horizon of surface based defences. Harpoon is also carried aboard the P-3C Orion F-18, RAN submarines and FFG patrol frigates.
Technology Explained
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McDonnell-Douglas Agm-84A Harpoon and Agm-84E Slam
The Precision Guided Munition (PGM) is one of the most potent force multipliers available in the tactical air battle. The high kill probability of modern PGMs ensures that few rounds are required to destroy a target, which reduces the number of sorties to be flown. This in turn translates into a substantial reduction in consumed fuel, flying hours and ultimately attrition of aircraft and aircrew.
While PGMs such as the laser guided bomb and TV guided bomb introduced unprecedented accuracy, the increase in the concentration of hostile defences relative to the number of strike aircraft increased the risks inherent in the overflight of the target.
Glide bombs such as the GBU-15 and Walleye 1/11 family were a partial answer as they allowed the strike aircraft to attack from outside the target’s terminal defences, often fortified with large amounts of visually aimed AAA (guns) which are understandably immune to electronic countermeasures. While the glidebomb packs a lot of punch, its limited range at low altitude and restricted terminal trajectory render its launch platform vulnerable to newer types of SAM. In particular the SA-11 Gadfly and late SA-6 Gainful have a known capability to hit low level targets at ranges of several nautical miles.
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