How US Harpoon anti-ship missile in India's arsenal will rebalance Indo-Pacific

US Harpoon missiles to India costs $82 million

The US has approved the sale of Harpoon Joint Common Test Set (JCTS) and related equipment to India at an estimated cost of $82 million, a decision which it said will help strengthen the bilateral strategic ties and improve the security of a major defensive partner in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying the US Congress of the possible sale of the Harpoon anti-ship missile.

India had requested to buy one Harpoon Joint Common Test Set (JCTS).

The deal also includes one Harpoon Intermediate Level maintenance station; spare and repair parts, support, and test equipment; publications and technical documentation; personnel training; US Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and programme support. 

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Harpoon: All-weather, over-the-horizon

The Harpoon was first deployed in 1977. It is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system. It has a low-level, sea-skimming cruise trajectory with active radar guidance.

The Harpoon missile is the world's most successful anti-ship missile and is in service with the armed forces of more than 30 countries, according to Boeing.

The US has produced several variant of the missile to suit air, ship and submarine-launched versions while upgrading it constantly.

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Reagan administration had delivered Harpoon missiles to Pak

Several countries including Australia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand among others have the missile in their arsenal. Pakistan last year had questioned US administrations move to sell Harpoons to India complaining that it would "further destabilise the region".

Several years ago reports in US media had indicated US officials were unhappy with illegal modifications made to the Harpoon anti-ship missile by Pakistan. US officials had raised the issue with then Pakistan government under former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. 

The Reagan administration had delivered 165 Harpoon missiles to Pakistan in the 80s as a defensive weapon in the Cold War. The reported modifications by Pakistan violated the US Arms Control Export Act. However Pakistan denied it had made any changes to the anti-ship missile.

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Harpoon travels as Mach speed

The missile can be launched from fixed-wing aircraft, ships including submarines. 

The subsonic cruise missile has seen various combat operations since it inception in the 80s. 

In 1988, Harpoon missiles were used by the US to sink the Iranian frigate Sahand during Operation Praying Mantis. It has an semi-active radar guidance system with a 224 kilo payload.

The missile can travel at 0.85 Mach high subsonic speed while hitting targets at a range within 90-240 km range. 

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US foreign policy initiative

The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-India strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defensive partner, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region, the DSCA said.

During the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US in June 2016, the US had recognised India as a "major defence partner", which commits the US to facilitate technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners, and industry collaboration for defence co-production and co-development.

The proposed foreign military sale, the State Department said, will improve India's capability to meet current and future threats by providing it with flexible and efficient Harpoon missile maintenance capabilities to ensure maximum force readiness.

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Basic military balance in the region

Noting that India will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces, the Pentagon said the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

"The principal contractor will be The Boeing Company, St. Louis, Missouri. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement required by India will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor(s)," it said.

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US sells Harpoons to Taiwan to counter China

US had earlier sold the anti-ship missiles to Taiwan in a bid to contain China. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Taiwan already has road-mobile supersonic missile, Hsiung Feng III which has a range of nearly 250 miles.

The two missile systems -  Harpoon and Hsiung Feng III - would act as a deterrent against China military muscle, at least in the short run if hostilities break out between the two countries.

The former Trump administration has ramped up support for Taiwan through arms sales and visits by senior US officials, adding to tensions in relations between Beijing and Washington already strained by disagreements over the South China Sea, Hong Kong, human rights and trade.

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Taiwan connection

A top White House official had earlier urged Taiwan to build its military capabilities to protect against possible invasion by China.

Beijing, in turn, had accused Washington of violating agreements signed in the 1970s establishing diplomatic relations between the two governments.

US giants Lockheed and Boeing were involved in a recent sale of $1 billion worth of missiles to Taiwan, alongwith Raytheon.

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