US Navy Harpoon Coastal Defense System successfully intercepts maritime target

The US Navy’s Harpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS) successfully completed a developmental test at the Point Mugu Sea Range off the coast of California. Conducted over two days in late July 2026, the test involved a joint team from the Navy’s Precision Strike Weapons program office, the Naval Air Weapons Station Technical Project Office, the Point Mugu Sea Range, and Boeing.

During the engagement, the Harpoon missile was launched from a land-based platform and successfully struck a target vessel in near-shore, littoral waters. The HCDS is designed to provide a robust anti-ship capability to protect strategic waterways and vital coastal assets. The system utilizes a wheeled vehicle equipped with a command cabin and canisters that can hold up to four missiles.

The missile employs mid-course guidance with a radar seeker and features a sea-skimming cruise trajectory to ensure effectiveness against maritime threats. These developmental tests are part of a process to evaluate combat readiness, tracking capabilities, and live-fire effectiveness for the weapon system.