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CSIS evaluators found Worryingly, around the world have initiated
the study concluded that the U.S. action to replace it with missiles Naval Strike Missile
would run out of LRASMs quickly, that are stealthier and faster, and
within the first few days of the war, more suited to the demands of the In September 2022, the Spanish
while trying to stop the invasion. modern battlefield. Navy selected Kongsberg’s Naval
Strike Missile (NSM) as the replace-
ment for its Harpoon missiles.
Still in Demand Eyeing a HALO According to reports, the service
The demand for the tried and Even as it eyes the acquisition of picked NSM over MBDA’s Exocet
trusted Harpoon isn’t slowing down. an increased number of LRASM MM40 Block 3c and Saab RBS 15
In 2020, the Defense Security missiles, the Pentagon already Mk3+. The NSM is expected to be
Cooperation Agency announced has started working on its succes- delivered before the Harpoon is
that the United States approved the sor. In March last year, the U.S. retired from active service around
sale of 100 sets of shore-mounted Naval Air Systems Command 2030.
Harpoon missile systems to Taiwan awarded US$116 million contracts
in 2020. Taiwan views the Harpoon to Raytheon Missiles and Defense The Royal Navy is expected to
as critical in its attempts to stop and Lockheed Martin for the initial retire the Harpoon much earlier. In
China and its officials have been development for a carrier-suitable December 2023, the Royal Navy
pressing their US counterparts long-range, high-speed ship-killing (RN) declared an initial operating
since 2022 to ensure the delivery missile designated Hypersonic Air capability (IOC) with the Kongsberg
of more than half of the missiles Launched Offensive Anti-Surface Naval Strike Missile (NSM) follow-
within the next three years and the (HALO). The companies have until ing a first delivery of weapons to the
remaining by the end of 2029. Last the end of 2024 to develop their Type 23 frigate HMS Somerset. In
month, four members of the US prototypes. November 2022, the UK Ministry
House of Representatives wrote a of Defence signed a deal with
letter to the House Committee on The Navy wants to equip its air- Kongsberg to replace the Harpoon
Appropriations to seek US$165 mil- craft-carrier-based fighter jets with Block 1C missiles on 11 of its war-
lion (NT$5.3 billion) investment to the HALO missile, which will pro- ships, including Type 45 destroyers
expedite the delivery of the missiles vide greater anti-surface warfare and type 23 frigates, with the NSM.
to Taiwan. They stressed the impor- capability than what is available The missile is only a stop-gap solu-
tance of ensuring that the weapons today. According to reports, the tion for the Type 23 frigates and will
reach the island country before service is requesting US$179 be replaced by the Anglo-French
the Davidson Window, or the 2027 million in fiscal 2025 for research, Future Cruise Anti-Ship Weapon
timeline of a potential Chinese inva- development, test and evaluation (FCASW), around 2028. The
sion given by former commander funding for the project a substantial FCASW will also be on Royal Air
of the US Indo-Pacific Command increase from the US$99 million Force Eurofighter Typhoon fighter
Admiral Phillip Davidson. jets.
that previous budget plans antici-
pated. The missile is expected to
In April last year, the U.S. Naval achieve initial operational capability Crowded Market
Air Systems Command signed by fiscal year 2029. The LRASMs
a US$1.17 billion contract with will be phased out once HALO The anti-ship missiles market
Boeing that involves delivering 400 becomes operational. isn’t confined to a few regions or
mobile, land-launched Harpoon companies. In 2021, South Korea
anti-ship missiles to Taiwan, to tested its first supersonic cruise
help it counter the Chinese threat. “As threat capability missile that has a speed of up to
Taiwan is no stranger to the mis- continues to advance, Mach 2-3. The anti-ship missile,
sile, having previously purchased additional range, warfare which bears a close resemblance
the ship-launched versions of the to the Russian anti-ship missile
missile. The Harpoon, in service capability, and capacity P-800 “Onyx, is said to be capable
with the armed forces of more than is required to address of striking Chinese aircraft carriers
30 countries since 1977 and capa- the more demanding and other hostile ships in Western
ble of executing both land-strike and Eastern Seas of the Korean
and anti-ship missions, has been threat environment,” Peninsula. The cruise missiles
upgraded over the years. However, says Captain Richard Gensley, will be placed on the next-gener-
with the growing complexities of Precision Strike Weapons (PMA- ation destroyer KDDX and Aegis
modern warfare, several navies 201) program manager. destroyer KDX-3 Batch-2.

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