Exocet

A French family of high-subsonic, sea-skimming anti-ship missiles fielded in ship-, air-, submarine- and coast-launched forms.

Overview

Exocet is a French anti-ship missile family developed for launch from surface ships, coastal batteries, aircraft and submarines. Its defining characteristics are high-subsonic speed, a low sea-skimming terminal profile and active-radar terminal guidance. The family entered service with the ship-launched MM38 in 1975 and subsequently expanded through the air-launched AM39, submarine-launched SM39 and longer-ranged MM40 series. MBDA now produces and supports the family.

The current surface-launched standard is the MM40 Block 3c, which combines a range in the 250 km class with programmable three-dimensional waypoints, ship and soft land-target engagement, and a new coherent active-radar seeker designed for dense electronic-warfare environments. Earlier variants established Exocet's international reputation during the Falklands War and the Iran-Iraq War. According to EDR Magazine, the family had accumulated 36 customers and reached its 4,000th completed missile by the end of 2024.

🔒 The full Exocet file is for BattlePolicy Pro members. Below the line: development history, design and capabilities, variants, the combat record, advantages and limitations, comparable systems, outlook, the full specifications table, our sourcing, and the analyst assessment — procurement, suppliers and the BattlePolicy verdict. Unlock the full file with BattlePolicy Pro →