Article Posted on : - Jul 31, 2010

WASHINGTON (BNS): The US Department of Defense (US DoD) has awarded a $66 million defence contract to the Boeing Company for the production and procurement of Harpoon missile bodies (HMB).

According to a US DoD news report, Boeing will be manufacturing 32 Harpoon missile bodies for Taiwan, 4 Harpoon canister grade “B” missiles for the government of Canada; and associated spares and support.

In addition, this contract provides for the procurement of Harpoon missile spares for the governments of Canada, the Netherlands, Portugal, Japan, the United Kingdom, Israel, Pakistan, Turkey and Singapore. It also includes containers; Block II guidance section upgrade kits; wire bundle assemblies; and guidance control units.

Taiwan's purchase, at a cost of US$43.85 million, accounts for 66.4 percent of the entire contract.

The work is expected to be completed in June 2011.

The Harpoon is an all-weather, subsonic, over the horizon, anti-ship missile that can be launched from surface ships, submarines and aircraft.