The U.S. Air Force 53rd Test and Evaluation Group’s Detachment 3 recently conducted an operational taxi test at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, successfully integrating a U.S. Navy AGM-84 Harpoon missile system onto an F-16 fighter.
U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Timothy Perish
The AGM-84 Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-shipping missile system capable of being launched from aircraft, surface ships, submarines, and shore batteries. The Harpoon/F-16 combination is already in use as an anti-shipping platform by a limited number of international F-16 customers such as Greece and Taiwan.
The recent test achieved integration through the development of a “gateway system”. This system facilitated communication between the missile and the aircraft without requiring modifications to either platform. Acting as a translator, the gateway enabled the F-16 to recognise the Harpoon and the Harpoon to receive signals from the F-16. According to the chief project manager for rapid integration, the primary objective was to demonstrate that rapid weapons integration on USAF platforms can be achieved efficiently by modifying middleware, without necessitating extensive updates to the aircraft itself.
The successful execution of this test event showcases a viable pathway for rapidly integrating advanced weaponry onto existing platforms, potentially transforming traditional timelines that previously spanned several years. By leveraging the gateway approach, the 53rd TEG team expedited the integration process, significantly reducing the timeline and demonstrating a faster, more efficient method of adding new weapons capabilities to the aircraft. This test paves the way for future projects across various platforms and weapons systems, offering leaders expanded options for operational and contingency planning.
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