Harpoon missiles have been in development since the mid-’60s. They once had a range of 28 miles, but have recently been upgraded to five times that. These missiles are fast, precise, and very expensive. Each Harpoon missile cost the U.S. military just over a million dollars back in 2011, although the price has likely gone up significantly since.
Harpoon missiles are efficient at obliterating ships, and can be used in any weather. Their radar homing system helps them fly just above water levels, which prevents them from being detected or destroyed. Harpoons have been used in the Iraq war to great effect. They are a very expensive tool, but are more than worth their price.
The M91A2
Another sniper-rifle often used by Navy SEALs is the M91A2. It is manufactured by Redick Arms Development. The M91A2 is one of DEVGRU’s most popular weapons, and countless terrorists have been put to sleep using this incredible tool.
The M91A2 weighs about 14 pounds, and is 43 inches long. Like the SOCOM MK 13, it can effectively shoot up to a range of 0.75 miles. Once shot, the bullet travels at about 2,500 feet per second, making it an extremely deadly tool for long-distance targets.
The SLAM-ER Missile
The SLAM-ER missile is a highly capable and accurate ballistic weapon that can easily eliminate both short to medium-range targets on both land and sea. They have an effective reach of 170 miles and cost about $500,000 each. This makes them a lot more economical than other, larger missiles, while still being quite deadly.
The AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER missiles are some of the most advanced missiles in the world, and feature advanced remote control technology that allows them to hit moving targets without risking U.S. fighters. The Navy recently contracted Boeing to manufacture more of these, and the deal was reportedly closed at around $12.3 million.
Electromagnetic Personnel Interdiction Control (EPIC)
One of the Navy’s most interesting prototypes is the Electromagnetic Personnel Interdiction Control. This weirdly-named weapon, uses electromagnetic pulses to make their personnel targets ill and throw up. A prototype was created to test the idea of being able to neutralize an enemy without causing severe harm, as is always the case with bullets and explosions.
Despite being a promising idea, the EPIC’s development has recently been halted. It’s highly unlikely that the Navy will continue the development of this gun, although we would be lying to say if we said that a future with this war doesn’t sound really cool
The M61 Vulcan
M61 Vulcans are one of the Navy’s deadliest close-contact weapons. These are often a U.S. helicopter’s first line of defense when being shot, and have proved themselves to be very effective in a large range of situations. More than 3,700 U.S. aircraft contain these, and we’ll explain why right away.
Vulcan turrets fire electrically primed 20mm rounds at rates of up to 6,000 rounds per minute. Their ability to cause both precise and general destruction has earned them the name “The Hand of Gun”. These are some of the Navy’s most effective offensive weapons and definitely live up to the name.