Exocet
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1975
Total Production : 4,109
The combat-proven Exocet is a sea-skimming, subsonic, fire-and-forget, anti-ship missile. It entered service in 1975 with the French Navy. The guidance system consists of an inertial navigation system and an active radar seeker for the terminal phase. Exocet features a 165 kg shaped charge warhead. It is one of the most popular anti-ship missiles in the western hemisphere. More than 3,300 Exocet missiles have been produced for 33 countries.
Model | Status | Year | Produced |
---|---|---|---|
MM38 Exocet | Active | 1975 | 3,300 |
AM39 Exocet | Active | 1979 | ? |
SM39 Exocet | Active | 1983 | ? |
MM40 Exocet | Active | 1990 | 700 |
MM40BC Exocet | Active | 1995 | ? |
MM40 Block 3 Exocet | Active | 2010 | 109 |
MM38 Exocet
Group : Anti-Ship Missiles
Status : Active
Origin : France
Contractor : MBDA
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1975
Total Production : 3,300
The MM38 Exocet is a ship-launched anti-ship missile deployed in 1975.
Operators
Country | Status | State | Notes |
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![]() | Retired - No Longer Operational | 0/? | |
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Specifications
Notes | ||
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Dimensions | ||
Diameter | 350 millimeter | |
Length | 4.7 meter | |
Wingspan | 1.1 meter | |
Mass | ||
Warhead | 165 kilogram | |
Weight | 670 kilogram | |
Performance | ||
Max Range | 50,000 meter | |
Speed | ||
Top Speed | 298 mps |
AM39 Exocet
Group : Anti-Ship Missiles
Status : Active
Also Known As : AM39 Block 2 (improved version introduced in 2007)
Origin : France
Contractor : MBDA
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1979
Total Production : ?
The AM39 Exocet missile can be launched from a wide range of aircraft such as marine patrol aircraft, fighters and helicopters. The AM39 released from high altitude has a maximum range of 70 kilometers increasing launching aircraft survivability. The AM39 was upgraded under the Block 2 program through the addition of updated digital seeker and INS as well as other electronic improvements. The AM39 missile has been integrated on France's Super Etendard, Atlantic and Cougar. 14 aircraft types around the world are AM39 missile capable.
Operators
Country | Status | State | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Active | 10/? | |
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Specifications
Notes | ||
---|---|---|
Dimensions | ||
Diameter | 350 millimeter | |
Length | 4.7 meter | |
Wingspan | 1.1 meter | |
Mass | ||
Warhead | 165 kilogram | |
Weight | 670 kilogram | |
Performance | ||
Max Range | 70,000 meter | |
Min Range | 50,000 meter | |
Speed | ||
Top Speed | 309 mps |
SM39 Exocet
Group : Anti-Ship Missiles
Status : Active
Origin : France
Contractor : MBDA
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1983
Total Production : ?
The SM39 is the submarine torpedo tube launched version of the Exocet missile. The target information is downloaded to the Exocet missile before launching. The missile is housed in an underwater vehicle. Once the SM39 reaches the surface is ejected from the underwater vehicle and starts the Exocet's usual flight. The improvements of the Block 2 program were also provided to the SM39 missile.
The Indian Ministry of Defense and MBDA signed an agreement on 6 October 2005 in New Delhi for the purchase of 36 Exocet SM-39 torpedo-launched anti-ship missiles to arm the Indian Navy's submarines. Six Scorpene submarines purchased by the Indian Navy from France and outfitted with French-made equipment were slated to be armed with this weapon system under the terms of the agreement.
Operators
Country | Status | State | Notes |
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![]() | Active | ? | |
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![]() | Active | 36 | |
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Specifications
Notes | ||
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Dimensions | ||
Diameter | 350 millimeter | |
Length | 4.7 meter | |
Wingspan | 1.1 meter | |
Mass | ||
Warhead | 165 kilogram | |
Weight | 655 kilogram | |
Performance | ||
Max Range | 50,000 meter | |
Speed | ||
Top Speed | 309 mps |
MM40 Exocet
Group : Anti-Ship Missiles
Status : Active
Origin : France
Contractor : MBDA
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1990
Total Production : 700
The MM40 is an ECCM-protected, ship-launched, increased in length, long range version of the Exocet missile enabled to engage over the horizon targets. The MM40 features a better performance in heavy countermeasures ECM environments. MM40 missiles received upgrades from Block 2 program breakthroughs.
Operators
Country | Status | State | Notes |
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![]() | Active | 18/? | |
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Specifications
Notes | ||
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Dimensions | ||
Diameter | 350 millimeter | |
Length | 5.8 meter | |
Wingspan | 1.1 meter | |
Mass | ||
Warhead | 165 kilogram | |
Weight | 870 kilogram | |
Performance | ||
Max Range | 72,000 meter | |
Speed | ||
Top Speed | 309 mps |
MM40BC Exocet
Group : Anti-Ship Missiles
Status : Active
Origin : France
Contractor : MBDA
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 1995
Total Production : ?
The MM40BC is the designation of ground vehicle launched MM40 Exocet missiles. MM40BC missiles are used for coastal defense and retain the main features of the long range MM40 missile.
Operators
Country | Status | State | Notes |
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![]() | Active | ? |
Specifications
Notes | ||
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Dimensions | ||
Diameter | 350 millimeter | |
Length | 5.8 meter | |
Wingspan | 1.1 meter | |
Mass | ||
Warhead | 165 kilogram | |
Weight | 870 kilogram | |
Performance | ||
Max Range | 72,000 meter | |
Speed | ||
Top Speed | 309 mps |
MM40 Block 3 Exocet
Group : Anti-Ship Missiles
Status : Active
Also Known As : MM40 B3, MM40 B3C
Origin : France
Contractor : MBDA
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : December 16, 2010
Total Production : 109
The MM40 Block 3 is the latest, and extremely advanced, Exocet derivative featuring added coastal attack capability, while enhances the proven long range anti-ship capability of the MM40 missile. A new propulsion system will be provided to the Block 3 missile to extend its operational range out to 180 km. Block 3 missiles will be fully compliant with evolving vertical launch requirements.
Block 3's new airframe will feature reduced radar (RCS) and Infrared (IR) signatures as well as enhanced maneuverability allowing flight stealth conditions for increased survivability. The guidance package will combine GPS/INS and a new J-band seeker providing new attack profiles and reduced jam vulnerability. The Block 3 will be armed with a new warhead to better adapt to the coastal attack role.
The new MM40 Block 3 missile will be available in 2006. MBDA is marketing the Block 3 as an upgrade kit for retrofitting to existing MM40 missiles. The French Navy intends to upgrade currently deployed Exocet MM40 Block 2 missiles to the Block 3 standard.
Operators
Country | Status | State | Notes |
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![]() | Active | ? | Missiles ordered for four Gowind class corvettes |
![]() | Active | 45 | |
![]() | Active | ? | Greece ordered 16 additional missiles in 2025 |
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![]() | Active | 48 | |
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Specifications
Notes | ||
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Performance | ||
Max Range | 180 kilometer |
News

A successful firing, by the French navy, of the latest generation of MBDA’s Exocet missile – Mer-Mer 40 Block 3c (MM40 B3c) – took place from the multi-mission Alsace frigate
MBDA strengthens its close relationship with Greece’s armed forces with two contracts for armaments for the Hellenic Navy and Hellenic Air Force, signed on Thursday, 24 March 2022.

On March 24, 2022, Greece and Naval Group signed the contracts for three defence and intervention frigates, plus one optional, and their in-service support.

Marignane, 24 November 2021 – Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first H225M in naval combat configuration to the Brazilian Navy.

On September 28th, Nikólaos Panayotópoulos, the Greek Minister of Defence, Pierre Eric Pommellet, CEO of Naval Group, and Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, signed a Memorandum
Lieutenant General Theodoros Lagios, General Director for Defence Investments and Armaments of the Greek Ministry of Defence and Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, today signed

Naval Group delivered today the Suffren nuclear attack submarine (SSN) to the French Armament Procurement Agency (Direction Générale de l'Armement) at the Toulon naval base.

Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly hails the success of the first naval cruise missile launch by the nuclear-powered attack submarine Suffren On October 20, 2020, the
The steel-cutting ceremony of the first defence and intervention frigate (FDI) took place on the Naval Group site of Lorient.
On July 12 2019, during a ceremony presided over by the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, Naval Group launched the Suffren, the first of six nuclear submarines

On 14 December 2017, in presence of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, along with Defence Minister Smt.
Russian media recently confirmed that the Kh-35E tactical air-launched anti-ship cruise missile was being incorporated aboard Russia's Sukhoi T-50 5th-generation stealth
Photo Gallery
September 2021

MM40 Block 3C missile
April 2010

Exocet MM40 Block 3
January 2009

Exocet Block 3 anti-ship missile
December 2006

MM40 Exocet
Notes
State Latest Known holdings/Original Procurement
Com - Date of Commissioning
Decom - Date of Decommissioning
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