Exocet

Exocet
David Monniaux · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Exocet
Type	Anti-ship missile

Exocet is a family of French-developed anti-ship missiles originally produced by Aérospatiale and later by MBDA (company). Designed for surface, air, and submarine launch, the system became notable for its sea-skimming profile and inertial and active radar homing guidance used against naval vessels, influencing procurement and tactical doctrine among navies and air forces such as Royal Navy, Argentine Navy, French Navy, Royal Saudi Air Force, and Iranian Navy.

Design and Development

The missile began development amid Cold War tensions involving actors such as NATO, Warsaw Pact, French Navy, and defense firms including Dassault Aviation and Thales Group. Initial work in the late 1960s and early 1970s drew on research programs connected with SEPR and missile propulsion projects similar to those pursued by Matra and MBDA (company). Engineering teams emphasized sea-skimming flight profiles influenced by lessons from engagements like the Suez Crisis and contemporary studies by institutes associated with École Polytechnique and CNRS. Guidance architecture integrated inertial navigation akin to systems in Scarab and active radar seekers developed alongside radar companies such as Thomson-CSF and cooperative tests with platforms including Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard and surface combatants like Type 42 destroyer.

Prototype trials involved cooperation among yards and navies including Direction générale de l'armement, Arsenal de Toulon, BAE Systems shipyards, and flight trials with aircraft like Lockheed P-3 Orion and helicopters in exercises with units from French Navy and export customers including Royal Saudi Air Force and Argentine Navy.

Specifications

Typical specifications across major production blocks resemble those fielded by naval units such as Royal Navy and air arms like Armée de l'Air: - Length and mass metrics comparable to contemporaries such as Harpoon (missile) and P-15 Termit. - Propulsion using solid-fuel rocket motors developed in programs related to SNECMA and Aérospatiale propulsion lines. - Guidance combining inertial navigation and terminal active radar homing developed by Thales Group and electronics similar to systems deployed on Mirage 2000 avionics suites. - Flight profile employing sea-skimming altitudes guided by radar altimeters similar to those used on Sea Skua and RBS-15. - Warhead design and fusing comparable to anti-ship warheads used in missiles like Exocet contemporaries deployed on platforms such as Type 21 frigate and Dragueur de mines.

Operational History

Fielding followed exports and domestic deployment by French Navy aboard frigates and corvettes, integration with aircraft including Dassault-Breguet Super Étendard, and submarine-launched variants compatible with systems on submarines like those of Argentine Navy and South African Navy. Use in conflicts prompted strategic discussions involving navies and governments such as United Kingdom, Argentina, Iraq, and Iran. Encounters during crises influenced naval procurement reviews in institutions like Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), US Department of Defense, and led to tactics updates within fleets including Royal Australian Navy and Royal Canadian Navy.

Variants

Development produced multiple variants for different launch platforms used by forces including French Navy and export customers such as Iranian Navy: - Air-launched versions integrated with aircraft like Dassault Mirage F1 and Super Étendard. - Ship-launched variants fitted to frigates and destroyers including Type 42 destroyer and La Fayette-class frigate. - Submarine-launched conversions compatible with torpedo tubes on classes similar to Agosta-class submarine. Each variant paralleled evolutions seen in contemporaries such as Harpoon (missile), RBS-15, and SS-N-2 Styx with upgraded seekers, improved electronics, and extended-range propulsion options developed through partnerships between Aérospatiale and Thales Group.

Operators and Deployment

Operators have included state navies and air arms like French Navy, Argentine Navy, Royal Saudi Air Force, Iranian Navy, Sri Lanka Navy, Chilean Navy, Peruvian Navy, Hellenic Navy, Royal Navy, Republic of Korea Navy, Brazilian Navy, Egyptian Navy, United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, and Royal Malaysian Navy. Deployment patterns saw integration on platforms such as Super Étendard, Dassault Mirage 2000, Type 23 frigate, Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate equivalents, and various submarine classes comparable to Agosta-class submarine and export derivatives used by fleets like Pakistani Navy and Algerian Navy.

Notable Engagements and Incidents

The missile gained international attention during conflicts involving actors such as Argentina and United Kingdom in the Falklands War, where strikes on ships like HMS Sheffield and Atlantic Conveyor prompted inquiries by defense ministries including Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom). Engagements in the Iran–Iraq War and incidents affecting merchant shipping in regions near Persian Gulf and Red Sea involved countries and organizations such as Iraq, Iran, United Nations, and naval task groups from NATO. These events influenced tactics, countermeasures development by defense companies like Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Raytheon, and operational doctrines within fleets such as Royal Navy and United States Navy.

Category:Anti-ship missiles