U.S. Navy taps Boeing for Harpoon update

The United States Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command announced plans on March 16 to pursue a sole-source contract with Boeing for software updates to the Harpoon missile support system, according to a presolicitation notice.

The effort focuses on updating the Common Munitions BIT/Reprogramming Equipment Mission Application Program, a system used to support and maintain Harpoon missile operations. The move comes as the Navy continues efforts to sustain and modernize existing precision strike capabilities already in service.

According to the notice, the contract will be executed under an existing Basic Ordering Agreement and will be structured as a firm fixed price delivery order. The Navy stated the procurement is being conducted on a sole-source basis under federal acquisition rules, citing Boeing as the only responsible source capable of meeting requirements within the required timeframe.

The Naval Air Systems Command said Boeing is “the sole designer, developer, manufacturer and integrator of the HII+ Tactical Missiles and its related equipment,” and possesses the necessary proprietary technical data, software, and manufacturing capabilities to perform the work. The agency added that no other vendor is known to have the required experience and access to complete the update.

The software update applies to the Mission Application Program within the CMBRE system, which is used to test, configure, and reprogram guided munitions such as the Harpoon missile. These updates are intended to maintain compatibility with evolving mission requirements and ensure continued operational readiness of the system.

The presolicitation notice also stated that while the contract is planned as sole-source, other interested parties may submit capability statements or proposals for consideration. However, the government retains full discretion on whether to proceed with a competitive process.

The development follows recent testing activity involving the Harpoon Block II Update missile. In February, the Navy confirmed completion of the third and final flight test in a system-level campaign conducted in partnership with Boeing.

According to the Navy, the final test took place on January 16 at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and the Point Mugu Sea Range. The event demonstrated a Coastal Target Suppression mission against a representative land target, with all objectives met based on preliminary assessments.

During the test, the missile was launched from an F-15 aircraft at approximately 12,000 feet above ground level. The weapon then descended to about 5,000 feet before continuing toward the target area. In the terminal phase, it executed a steep dive prior to impact, simulating a coastal engagement scenario.

The Navy said the three-test campaign was designed to validate the Harpoon Block II Update across different mission profiles. The first test focused on guidance and aerodynamic performance, the second evaluated engagement of a moving maritime target, and the final event confirmed effectiveness against a land-based target.

“This milestone reflects the strength of the integrated government and industry team and their commitment to delivering reliable, relevant capability to the fleet,” said Capt. Sarah Abbott, program manager for the Precision Strike Weapons office.

Bob Cress, the SLAM ER and HIIU development team lead, added: “This achievement reflects the coordinated efforts of professionals across program management, engineering, logistics, test and evaluation, aircrew, ground support, and range teams, alongside our industry partners.”

The Harpoon missile remains a widely used anti-ship weapon, with upgrades such as the Block II Update expanding its role to include land attack missions. The associated support systems, including CMBRE, allow operators to program mission data and ensure system functionality prior to deployment.