"The Boeing Company has been awarded a $73.7 million U.S. Navy contract to design and develop the Harpoon Block III missile, a next-generation weapon system that will enhance naval surface warfare capabilities," the company said in a statement Jan. 31.

"The system design and development -- SDD -- contract will result in a kit upgrade program for existing Navy weapons that will return 800 enhanced surface- and air-launch Harpoon missiles and 50 ship-launch systems to the service's inventory," Boeing said.

"The start of SDD is a big milestone for the Harpoon program and is the first major development for the U.S. Navy on Harpoon for many years," said Jim Young Jr., Boeing Harpoon Block III program manager. "Harpoon Block III will provide the war fighter with a capable, near-term solution to over-the-horizon, surface warfare threats."

"Equipped with a new data-link system, Harpoon Block III will offer war fighters more control after the weapon is released, resulting in improved accuracy for littoral and open-ocean warfare. The Block III upgrade also positions the missile for future spiral developments, including extended range and vertical launch capabilities," Boeing said.

"Harpoon Block III adds in-flight target updates, positive terminal control and connectivity with future network architectures to a proven missile that already provides autonomous, all-weather, over-the-horizon capability," the company said.

"The surface-launch version of Harpoon Block III will achieve initial operational capability -- IOC -- in early 2011 with IOC of the air-launch version scheduled for later that year. The next major program milestones will be the Systems Requirements and Preliminary Design Reviews, both scheduled for 2008," Boeing said.

Boeing describes its Integrated Defense Systems unit as "one of the world's largest space and defense businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $32.1 billion business with 72,000 employees worldwide."