Harpoons For Taiwan

September 6, 2008: Taiwan is buying 60 Harpoon (AGM-84D) anti-ship missiles, for $1.5 million each. These will be used on twelve P-3C maritime patrol aircraft. The 1,200 pound Harpoon has a 487 pound warhead and a range of 220 kilometers. It approaches the target low,  at about 860 kilometers an hour. GPS gets the missile to the general vicinity of the target, then radar takes over to identify and hit the target. The Harpoon has successful combat experience going back two decades. Most Chinese warships (corvettes and frigates) are small enough to be destroyed by one Harpoon.