On February 5, 2026, Naval Air Systems Command announced that the U.S. Navy had carried out the third and final planned flight test of the Harpoon Block II Update (HIIU) Obsolescence Update program, closing a key chapter in the life-extension of one of its most widely used anti-ship missiles. Conducted in mid-January over ranges in California, the event confirms that the upgraded missile can still prosecute demanding coastal and land-attack profiles despite the age of the original design. In an era of contested littorals and dense coastal defenses, ensuring that an affordable, mature weapon like Harpoon remains credible is strategically significant for both the United States and allied fleets. Read Full Defense News At This Link.
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The U.S. Navy has completed the final flight test of its Harpoon Block II Update missile, confirming the upgraded weapon can still perform demanding coastal and land-strike missions despite the system’s aging design (Picture Source: NAVAIR)