Taiwan-Bound Harpoon Coastal Defense System Scores Direct Hit in US Navy Test
28th August 2026
The land-based Harpoon Coastal Defense System (HCDS) scored a direct hit during US Navy trials ahead of its planned deployment to Taiwan’s military. The HCDS is currently not under contract for the US or any other military besides Taiwan’s, making the successful live-fire test a critical step in fulfilling Taipei’s $2.3 billion order.
An American Harpoon missile system that will be fielded by Taiwan struck a vessel in a maritime strike test.
The Boeing-made Harpoon Coastal Defense System successfully struck the test target during a developmental test. According to the Portfolio Acquisition Executive Munitions release, the test was designed to validate the ground-based Harpoon system’s ability to engage at-sea threats.