For the first time, the Indian Air Force reportedly launched an anti-ship (guided) Harpoon missile in the Arabian Sea last week.
The missile was launched at a pre-designated target in the Arabian Sea on May 22 from a Jaguar maritime striker fighter. The fighter flew 200 nautial miles off the west coast to carry out the mission, a Hindustan Times report said.
The Harpoon is manufactured and developed by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, US. A Harpoon weighs about 1000 kg and is launched at 864km/h. The Harpoon has also been developed into a land-strike weapon.
The maritime strike squadron from the Lohegaon airbase, Pune isthe owner of the fighter used in this mission. The Jaguar was also reportedly refuelled in mid-air while the mission was on-going.
This was the first successful, first live firing of the Harpoon in India after integration by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, the report added.
