Editing Exocet (section)

==Description==
[[File:Exocet impact.jpg|thumb|Exocet impact]]
The Exocet is built by [[MBDA]], a European missile company. Development began in 1967 by Nord as a ship-launched weapon named the MM38. A few years later, [[Aérospatiale|Aerospatiale]] and Nord merged. The basic body design was based on the [[AS-30|Nord AS-30]] air-to-ground tactical missile. The sea-launched MM38 entered service in 1975,<ref name="missilethreat.csis.org"/> whilst the air-launched AM39 Exocet began development in 1974 and entered service with the [[French Navy]] five years later in 1979.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/exocet.htm |title=Exocet AM.39 / MM.40 |date=10 August 1999 |publisher=[[Federation of American Scientists]] |access-date=9 December 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115001857/https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/missile/row/exocet.htm |archive-date=15 January 2016}}</ref>

The relatively compact missile is designed for attacking small- to medium-size [[warship]]s (e.g., [[Frigate|frigates]], [[Corvette|corvettes]], and [[Destroyer|destroyers]]), although multiple hits are effective against larger vessels, such as aircraft carriers.<ref>{{cite book |last=Friedman |first=Norman |author-link=Norman Friedman |title=The Naval Guide to World Weapons Systems |date=1994 |edition=Updated |location=Annapolis |publisher=Naval Institute Press |page=109 |isbn=978-1-55750-259-9}} In a recent study by the Russians on the effects of missile boat anti-ship missiles it took three hits to destroy a light cruiser and one to two hits for a destroyer or frigate. Russian missile boat anti-ship missiles have far larger warheads than the Exocet.</ref> It is guided [[inertial guidance|inertially]] in mid-flight and turns on [[active radar homing]] late in its flight to find and hit its target. As a countermeasure against air defence around the target, it maintains a very low altitude while inbound, staying just one to two meters above the sea surface. Due to the effect of the [[radar horizon]], this means that the target may not detect an incoming attack until the missile is only {{Convert|6,000|m|mi}}  from impact. This leaves little time for reaction and stimulated the design of [[close-in weapon system]]s (CIWS).{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Its solid propellant [[Solid rocket|rocket]] motor gives the Exocet a maximum range of {{convert|70|km|mi nmi}}. It was replaced on the Block 3 MM40 ship-launched version of the missile with a solid-propellant [[Booster (rocketry)|booster]] and a turbojet [[sustainer engine]] which extends the range of the missile to more than {{convert|180|km|mi nmi}}. The submarine-launched version places the missile inside a [[launch capsule]].<ref name="auto"/>

Replacement [[Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon]] is under development.

===Versions===
[[File:ExocetNerz.jpg|thumb|MM38 onboard [[German Navy]] Type 143A {{sclass|Gepard|fast attack craft|1}} ''Nerz'' ]]
 
The Exocet has been manufactured in versions including:
* MM38 (surface-launched) – deployed on warships. Range: 42&nbsp;km. No longer produced. A coast defence version known as "Excalibur" was developed in the United Kingdom and deployed in [[Gibraltar]] from 1985 to 1997.<ref>{{cite book |last=Friedman |first=Norman |title=The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapons Systems, 1997–1998 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l-DzknmTgDUC&pg=PA227|year=1997|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=978-1-55750-268-1|page=227}}</ref>
* AM38 (helicopter-launched – tested only)<ref>Based on the ship launched MM38. Only five tested in 1973 from a Super-Felon helicopter, further development then abandoned for the lighter and smaller AM39. – {{Cite book |editor-first=Ronald T. |editor-last=Pretty |title=Jane's Weapon Systems 1976 |year=1975 |edition=7th |location=London, UK |publisher=MacDonald and Jane's |page=133 |isbn=978-0-35400-527-2}}</ref>
* AM39 (air-launched) – B2 Mod 2: deployed on 14 types of aircraft (combat jets, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters). Range between 50 and 70&nbsp;km, depending on the altitude and the speed of the launch aircraft.<ref name="auto2"/>
* SM39 (submarine-launched) – B2 Mod 2: deployed on submarines. The missile is housed inside a watertight launched capsule (''véhicule Sous marin,'' VSM), which is fired from the submarine's torpedo tubes. On leaving the water, the capsule is ejected and the missile's motor is ignited. It then behaves like an MM40. The missile will be fired at depth, which makes it particularly suitable for discreet submarine operations.<ref name="auto"/>
* MM40 (surface-launched) – Block 1, Block 2 and Block 3: deployed on warships and in coastal batteries. Range: 72&nbsp;km for the Block 2, in excess of 200&nbsp;km for the Block 3.<ref name="auto3"/><ref name="auto1"/>
* SM40 (submarine-launched), deployed on submarines, is the successor of the EXOCET SM39. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mbda-systems.com/euronaval-4-7-november-2024/ | title=Euronaval 4 - 7 November 2024 &#124; Mbda | work=MBDA }}</ref>

===MM40 Block 3===
In February 2004, the [[Direction générale de l'armement|Direction Générale pour l'Armement]] (DGA) notified MBDA of a contract for the design and production of a new missile, the MM40 Block 3. It has an improved range, in excess of {{convert|180|km|nmi|abbr=off}}{{snd}}through the use of a [[Microturbo TRI-40]] [[turbojet]] engine, and includes four air intakes to provide continuous airflow to the power plant during high-G manoeuvres.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

The Block 3 missile accepts [[satellite guidance|GPS guidance]] system waypoint commands, which allow it to attack naval targets from different angles and to strike land targets, giving it a marginal role as a [[land-attack missile]]. The Block 3 Exocet is lighter than the previous MM40 Block 2 Exocet.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://fas.org/spp/aircraft/part05.htm |chapter=Cruise Missiles: The Other Air Breathing Threat |title=Attack Aircraft Proliferation: Issues For Concern |first1=Christopher |last1=Bolkcom |first2=John |last2=Pike |date=1 April 1993 |publisher=Federation of American Scientists |access-date=10 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310064943/https://fas.org/spp/aircraft/part05.htm |archive-date=10 March 2016}}</ref>

45 Block 3 Exocets were ordered by the French Navy in December 2008 for its ships which were carrying Block 2 missiles, namely [[Horizon-class frigate|''Horizon''-class]] and [[FREMM multipurpose frigate|''Aquitaine''-class]] frigates. From 2021, the Block 3 upgrade was also being extended to three of the [[La Fayette-class frigate]]s selected for life extension refits.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2020/october/9094-naval-group-starts-renovation-and-upgrade-of-french-navy-courbet-la-fayette-class-frigate.html |title=Naval Group starts renovation and upgrade of French Navy Courbet La Fayette-class frigate |date=October 2020 |work=Navy Recognition |access-date=22 June 2021}}</ref> These are not to be new productions but the conversion of older Block 2 missiles to the Block 3 standard. An MM40 Block 3 last qualification firing took place on the [[Île du Levant]] test range on 25 April 2007 and series manufacturing began in October 2008. The first firing of the Block 3 from a warship took place on 18 March 2010, from the French Navy air defence frigate {{ship|French frigate|Chevalier Paul||2}}. In 2012, a new motor, designed and manufactured in Brazil by the Avibras company in collaboration with MBDA, was tested on an MM40 missile of the [[Brazilian Navy]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

Besides the French, the Block 3 has been ordered by several other navies including that of Greece, the [[United Arab Emirates|UAE]], Chile,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/article/64168/chile-begins-mm40-block-3-exocet-retrofits |title=Chile begins MM40 Block 3 Exocet retrofits |first=Richard |last=Scott |date=28 September 2016 |website=IHS Jane's 360 |access-date=14 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116162120/http://www.janes.com/article/64168/chile-begins-mm40-block-3-exocet-retrofits |archive-date=16 January 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Peru,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://base.mforos.com/862753/3281064-noticias-de-la-marina-del-peru/?pag=2 |title=Perú aprueba 41 millones de dólares para Defensa y se hará finalmente con misiles MM-40 Exocet |date=20 December 2010 |website=Foro Base Naval |language=es |access-date=9 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209165216/https://base.mforos.com/862753/3281064-noticias-de-la-marina-del-peru/?pag=2 |archive-date=9 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Qatar, Oman, Indonesia and Morocco.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=112698 |title=Premier tir de missile Exocet MM40 Block3 par la marine française |date=19 March 2010 |website=Mer et Marine |language=fr |access-date=9 December 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322192311/http://www.meretmarine.com/article.cfm?id=112698 |archive-date=22 March 2010}}</ref>

The chief competitors to the Exocet are the US-made [[Harpoon (missile)|Harpoon]], the Turkish [[Atmaca]], the Italian [[Otomat]], Israel [[Gabriel (missile)|Gabriel-V]],  the Swedish [[RBS 15]] and the Chinese [[C-802|Yingji]] series.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

===MM40 Block 3c===

The “Block 3c” variant integrates a digital Radio Frequency (RF) seeker to the missile that has been developed by Thales. The Block 3c variant is described as more resistant to jamming systems and may be able to recognize surface vessels, based on the use of advanced wave forms. Block 3 missiles introduced a longer 200 kilometer range but retained the same RF seeker as Block 2. This technology remained non-digital.<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/euronaval-2022/2022/10/first-exocet-mm40-block-3c-missiles-set-for-december-delivery/|title=First Exocet MM40 Block 3c Missiles set for December Delivery|first=Xavier|last=Vavasseur|date=17 October 2022}}</ref>

The Block 3c variant is to begin delivery to the French Navy in December 2022 with 55 new missiles ordered in addition to 45 “MM40 Block 3c kits” to update existing Block 3 missiles to the Block 3c configuration.<ref name="auto4"/> In September 2023, tests of the missile conducted by the [[French frigate Alsace|frigate ''Alsace'']] confirmed the variant as ready for operational service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.meretmarine.com/fr/defense/mbda-le-missile-antinavire-exocet-mm40-block3c-bon-pour-le-service |title =MBDA : le missile antinavire Exocet MM40 Block3c bon pour le service  |website= Mer et Marine |last=Groizeleau |first=Vincent |date = 29 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/09/successful-firing-of-new-exocet-missile-from-french-frigate/ |title=Successful Firing Of New Exocet Missile From French Frigate |website=Naval News |date=28 September 2023}}</ref>

On 15/04/2025, Greece signed a contract in Athens for the procurement of 16 Exocet MM40 Block 3c variant missiles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/04/greece-orders-exocet-mm40-block-3c-anti-ship-missiles/ |title=Greece Orders Exocet MM40 Block 3C Anti-Ship Missiles |website=Naval News |date=15 April 2025}}</ref>