Exocet

Exocet
David Monniaux · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Exocet
Type	Anti-ship missile
Country	France
Manufacturer	Aérospatiale (now MBDA)
Introduced	1975

Exocet. The Exocet is a French-made anti-ship missile developed by Aérospatiale (now MBDA), a leading European missile manufacturer, in collaboration with German and Italian companies. The Exocet has been used by several countries, including Argentina, Brazil, and Peru, in various naval and land-based applications, such as the Falklands War and the Iran-Iraq War. The Exocet's development involved cooperation with other European companies, such as Dassault Aviation and Thales Group, and was influenced by the Cold War era's focus on anti-ship warfare.

Introduction

The Exocet's introduction in 1975 marked a significant milestone in the development of anti-ship missiles, with its advanced guidance system and propulsion system designed by Snecma and Renault. The Exocet's design was influenced by the French Navy's requirements for a modern anti-ship missile capable of countering the Soviet Navy's Baltic Fleet and Black Sea Fleet. The Exocet has been used in various naval battles, including the Falklands War, where it was employed by the Argentine Navy against the Royal Navy, and the Lebanon War, where it was used by the Israeli Navy against Syrian and Palestinian forces. The Exocet's development also involved cooperation with other European countries, such as Germany and Italy, and was supported by organizations like the NATO and the European Defence Agency.

Design_and_Development

The Exocet's design and development involved a team of engineers from Aérospatiale and other European companies, including Dassault Aviation and Thales Group. The Exocet's guidance system was designed by Thomson-CSF (now Thales Group) and uses a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing to target ships like the USS Nimitz and the HMS Invincible. The Exocet's propulsion system was designed by Snecma and uses a solid-fuel rocket motor to achieve a range of over 70 km and a speed of Mach 0.9. The Exocet's development was influenced by the Cold War era's focus on anti-ship warfare and the need for a modern anti-ship missile capable of countering the Soviet Navy's Baltic Fleet and Black Sea Fleet, as well as the United States Navy's Pacific Fleet and Atlantic Fleet. The Exocet's design was also influenced by the French Navy's requirements for a modern anti-ship missile capable of being launched from a variety of ships and submarines, including the Rubis-class submarine and the La Fayette-class frigate.

Operational_History

The Exocet has been used in various naval battles and conflicts, including the Falklands War, where it was employed by the Argentine Navy against the Royal Navy, and the Lebanon War, where it was used by the Israeli Navy against Syrian and Palestinian forces. The Exocet was also used by the Iraqi Navy during the Iran-Iraq War and by the Peruvian Navy during the Cenepa War. The Exocet's operational history has been marked by several notable events, including the sinking of the HMS Sheffield and the HMS Atlantic Conveyor during the Falklands War, and the attack on the USS Stark during the Iran-Iraq War. The Exocet's use has been influenced by the geopolitics of the Middle East and the South Atlantic, as well as the foreign policy of countries like France, United States, and United Kingdom, and organizations like the United Nations and the European Union.

Variants

The Exocet has been developed in several variants, including the Exocet MM38, Exocet MM40, and Exocet SM39, each with its own unique characteristics and capabilities. The Exocet MM38 is a ship-launched version of the Exocet, while the Exocet MM40 is a land-based version. The Exocet SM39 is a submarine-launched version of the Exocet, designed for use by submarines like the Rubis-class submarine. The Exocet's variants have been used by several countries, including Argentina, Brazil, and Peru, and have been influenced by the naval doctrine of countries like France, United States, and United Kingdom, as well as the defense policy of organizations like the NATO and the European Defence Agency.

Operators

The Exocet has been used by several countries, including Argentina, Brazil, and Peru, as well as France, Germany, and Italy. The Exocet's operators have included the French Navy, Argentine Navy, Brazilian Navy, and Peruvian Navy, among others. The Exocet's use has been influenced by the foreign policy of countries like France, United States, and United Kingdom, as well as the geopolitics of the Middle East and the South Atlantic. The Exocet's operators have also included organizations like the NATO and the European Defence Agency, which have played a significant role in the development and deployment of the Exocet. The Exocet's operators have been supported by companies like Dassault Aviation, Thales Group, and MBDA, which have provided logistics and maintenance support for the Exocet.

Category:Missiles