Military Aircraft Systems

Maritime Weapons

Objective:

To identify the different types of Maritime Weapons in service with the UK Armed Forces.

Maritime Weapons

Contents:

•Harpoon•Sting Ray

Harpoon

Harpoon

Long-Range Sea-Skimming Anti-Ship Missile

• Nimrod MR2 (Retired 2010)• Nimrod MRA4 (Cancelled 2010)• Royal Navy Type 23 Frigate• Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyer

Harpoon

• The Harpoon AGM-84D is a fully autonomous, over-the-horizon, all-weather, anti-ship missile.

• The missile can operate using pre-programmed targeting information or can use its own active radar for terminal acquisition of the target.

• The Harpoon can be launched at long range, thereby minimising the danger of counter-detection and subsequent attack against the launch aircraft.

• The 222kg warhead is a high-explosive unit capable of surviving the initial impact with the target’s hull. This enables the missile to detonate inside the ship, increasing its destructive effectiveness.

Harpoon

Dimensions:Length: 3.8mDiameter: 0.34mWeight: 488lbs (221kg)

Performance:Range: 70nm+Speed: 537mph (864km/h)Sensor: Inertial midcourse/active radar

Performance:Range: 70nm+Speed: 537mph (864km/h)Sensor: Inertial midcourse/active radar

Sting Ray

Sting Ray

Lightweight, Electrically Powered Homing Torpedo

• Nimrod MR2 (Retired 2010)• Nimrod MRA4 (Cancelled 2010)• Royal Navy Merlin HM1• Royal Navy Lynx HMA8

Sting Ray

Sting Ray

• Sting Ray is a lightweight, air-launched, electrically-powered, homing torpedo used against either deep ocean or coastal water submarines.

• The Sting Ray is an autonomous weapon which, having received pre-launch search pattern information from the launch aircraft, uses active sonar and tactical software to search for, localise and attack its submarine target.

• Should the Sting Ray miss its target, it has the ability to turn and home in again for another attack.

Sting Ray

Dimensions:Length: 2.6mDiameter: 0.35mWeight: 265kg

Performance:Powerplant: Electric via sea water batterySpeed: 45+ knotsMax Depth: Below 760mGuidance: Pre-launch target informationWarhead: 45kg shaped chargeTarget: Submarines

Questions?