The Harpoon uses mid-course guidance and an active radar seeker to track and hit surface targets. It can be launched from ships, submarines, shore batteries, and aircraft. The Air Force B-52H bombers can carry up to 12 Harpoons. In 1998, the Harpoon Block II upgrade added GPS-assisted navigation, improving both land attack and anti-ship capabilities.
While the Harpoon is being replaced by newer missiles like the Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and the AGM-158C LRASM, which have been ordered by the U.S. Navy and Air Force, it is still in production and continues to equip various ships and aircraft, which makes it a reliable long-range strike weapon for both current and future operations.