Exocet

Exocet
General Information
Type	Anti-ship missile
Local name	MM.38, MM.39, AM.39, SM.39, MM.40
NATO designation	Exocet
Country of origin	France
Manufacturer	1979–1999: Aérospatiale 1999–2001: Aérospatiale-Matra Since 2001: MBDA
development	1967–1970: Nord Aviation 1970–1974: Aérospatiale
Commissioning	1975
Working time	in service
Technical specifications
length	AM.39 block 1: 4.69 m MM.40 block 3: 5.90 m
diameter	350 mm
Combat weight	AM.39 block 1: 670 kg MM.40 block 3: 780 kg
span	AM.39 block 1: 1090 mm MM.40 block 3: 1130 mm
Drive First stage Second stage	MM.40 Block 3: Solid fuel booster AM.39 Block 1: Solid rocket engine MM.40 Block 3: Turbojet
speed	AM.39 block 1: Mach 0.87-0.93 MM.40 block 3: 0.8-0.9
Range	AM.39 block 1: 70 km MM.40 block 3: 200 km
Furnishing
steering	AM.39 Block 1: Inertial navigation system MM.40 Block 3: Inertial navigation system, GPS , data link
Target location	active radar target search
Warhead	165 kg high explosive armor piercing
Detonator	Radar proximity fuse, impact fuse
Weapon platforms	Ships, submarines, planes, helicopters, trucks
Lists on the subject

The Exocet is an all-weather anti-ship missile made in France. It is produced by the French division of the European defense company MBDA . Developed in the 1970s, it has been continuously adapted and modernized to meet new threats. Exocet is still in use today and is one of the most widely used anti-ship missiles in the world.

development

On October 21, 1967, the Israeli destroyer INS Eilat was sunk by Egyptian SS-N-2 Styx anti-ship missiles of Soviet design. This was the world's first sinking of a warship by a ship-based anti-ship missile. Startled by this incident, the French Nord Aviation began at the end of December 1967 with an immediate program to develop the MM.38 Exocet. The technical director of Nord Aviation, M. Guillot, used the AS.30 air-to-ground guided missile , from which the Exocet airframe originated, as a guide. For this he used the solid rocket engine of the AS.37 Martel as well as the seeker head just completed for the AS.34 Kormoran . The Exocet's first test flight took place in June 1970. In that year, Nord Aviation was merged with Sud Aviation and SÉREB to form the aerospace group Aérospatiale . In mid-1972, the acceptance tests were carried out by the French Navy. The first Exocet was delivered to the French Navy in 1975 . In 2000, Aérospatiale was merged with other European companies to form EADS . In 2001 the EADS Aerospatiale Matra Missiles division was spun off into the newly founded MBDA . Over 3600 Exocets had been produced by the end of 2011.

technology

The Exocet can be used by airplanes, helicopters, ships, submarines or vehicles. Before the start, the coordinates and the course of the target must be transmitted to the missile's navigation system . These are determined by the respective launch platform using radar , sonar or ELINT .

When used from airplanes and helicopters, the drop can take place at an altitude of 50–10,000 m. After it has been released, there is initially a short phase with no drive. The two-stage solid rocket engine only ignites when it is a safe distance from the aircraft or helicopter .

The ship-based version MM.38 is installed in watertight, angular double launching canisters made of aluminum on the ship deck . The launch canisters have a fixed elevation of 12 °. The versions MM.39 and MM.40 are housed in more compact tubular four-way launching canisters made of glass fiber reinforced plastic . It takes a maximum of 60 seconds to start up the system and prepare for the start. The start takes place with the help of the first stage of the rocket engine on the rear of the guided missile. After leaving the steel container, the folding wings unfold. With the help of the first stage of the rocket engine, the guided missile rises to a height of 30 to 50 m, depending on the version. Then the guided missile takes on the cruising altitude. The MM.38 and MM.39 can curve through 30 ° after starting, the MM.40 through 90 °.

The SM.39 version, which is housed on submarines, is stored in a sealed VSM protective container (Véhicule Sous Marin) in the torpedo room of the submarine. For the start, the protective container with the guided weapon is pushed into a 533 mm standard torpedo tube . The protective container is pushed out of the torpedo tube by means of gas pressure. After leaving the torpedo tube, the protective container can cover a pre-programmed course and then emerge to the surface of the water using a rocket booster. After penetrating the surface of the water, the protective container rises to a height of 50 m. There the cap of the protective container is blown off, the rocket engine of the SM.39 ignites and drives it out of the protective container. Then the wings unfold and the guided missile takes on the cruising altitude.

All Exocet versions except the current MM.40 Block 3 fly a similar flight profile and are propelled by a two-stage solid rocket engine. The first stage burns for two seconds and accelerates the missile to Mach 0.87-0.93. This is followed by a no-propulsion phase for two seconds until the second stage ignites. This has a burn time of 90–150 seconds, depending on the version. The cruise flight can optionally take place at an altitude of 8-15 m, depending on the sea . A radar altimeter ensures the necessary safety distance between the guided weapon and the water surface. The versions MM.38 and MM.39 can adopt a semi-ballistic trajectory after the cruise engine has burned out and approach the target in a steep dive . The Exocet is a fire-and-forget guided missile and the flight to the target area takes place autonomously with the help of the inertial navigation platform (INS).

The on-board active ADAC radar seeker is activated 12–15 km before the calculated destination . This comes from CSF , weighs around 30 kg and works in a frequency range of 8-10  GHz . The seeker automatically switches to the previously determined radar contact or to the largest radar target. With Block 2 guided missiles, the improved Super ADAC seeker head can compare target data in a database and select targets. Once the target has been detected by the radar, the exact time to impact is determined and the warhead is sharpened. This consists of a fragmentation jacket and a 60 kg explosive core made of hexolite, a mixture of hexogen and trinitrotoluene . The entire warhead weighs 165 kg. The guided missile now sinks to a height of 1.5–5 m (sea skimming) for the final approach. From this point on, the Block 2 guided missiles can randomly execute abrupt evasive maneuvers and thus make countermeasures more difficult. In the optimal case, the guided weapon penetrates the ship's side wall at the target and the warhead detonates inside the ship with a short delay. The explosive effect is directed forward and can penetrate armor plates. The detonation usually triggers water ingress and fires in the ship. If the target protrudes only a little from the water, it is possible that the Exocet will fly over it. In this case, the warhead detonates 0.015 seconds after the previously determined impact time has elapsed. At this point the missile should be above the target's superstructure. The target then experiences a gas hammer effect when detonated and is covered with splinters. If no target is hit, the Exocet falls into the sea after a certain flight time.

commitment

Falklands War

An Argentine Dassault Super Étendard from the 2da Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Caza y Ataque

The first war mission of the Exocet took place in 1982 during the Falklands War through Argentina . The targets were the ships of the Royal Navy in the waters around the Falkland Islands . During and after the Falklands War, Argentina described the Exocet as a miracle weapon. Although the hit rate in this conflict was 40-50% and the Exocet had problems with the ignition system, the successes led to strong international demand for the weapon system. Repelling the Exocet proved difficult for the Royal Navy. With the exception of three frigates equipped with Sea Wolf anti-aircraft guided missiles , none of the ships had a suitable close-range defense system to combat low-flying anti-aircraft missiles. Only the use of chaff (Engl. Chaff) showed some success, but it provided no means for adequate security.

On May 21, 1982, a P-2 Neptune patrol aircraft of the Argentine Navy Air Force (COAN) located three Royal Navy ships southeast of the Falkland Islands. At 9.45 a.m., two Super Étendard took off from the Río Grande Air Force Base on Tierra del Fuego, each armed with an AM.39 Exocet. After an in-flight refueling by a KC-130 Hercules shortly after take-off, they went low-level at a height of 30 m. Both aircraft were under radio and radar silence (EMCON). At a distance of around 60–70 km from the fleet, the two aircraft climbed higher and activated their agave radar devices. After targeting, they fired their Exocets at 11:02 am, from a distance of 50–60 km, at an interval of 5 seconds at the two largest radar contacts. An Exocet missed the frigate HMS Yarmouth (F101) and fell into the sea. The other hit the destroyer HMS Sheffield (D80) to starboard, amidships. The engine room and the operations center were destroyed. The Exocet's warhead did not detonate, but the remaining rocket fuel caused a fire on board, which cut the electrical power supply and the fire extinguishing system. The fire could not be brought under control. The ship had to be abandoned a few hours later and burned out completely. Eventually it sank after six days. Of the 280 crew members, 20 were killed and 24 injured.

The next Exocet mission took place on May 25, 1982. The Argentine armed forces had located a Royal Navy fleet northeast of the Falkland Islands. Two Super Étendard of the Argentine Air Force equipped with AM.39 Exocet took off from Río Grande on Tierra del Fuego and flew north. After they had been refueled in the air northwest of the Falkland Islands, they attacked the British Task Group 317.8, in the middle of which the two aircraft carriers HMS Hermes (R12) and HMS Invincible (R05) were located, from the north. The aircraft approached at low altitude at a height of 30 m and a speed of 920 km / h. After the planes had risen briefly higher, they were able to locate the ships at a distance of about 60 km using radar. The planes immediately went low again and started their Exocets at 4:32 p.m. Warned by their radar, the warships shot chaffs into the air to deceive and confuse the missile seekers' heads. In fact, the Exocets' radar seekers locked onto the chaff clouds. After flying through the chaff clouds, however, the search heads switched to the container ship Atlantic Conveyor, which was moving away at the time . Both Exocets hit the ship's hull on the port side, about 1.80 m above the waterline. Immediately a fire broke out, which hit the whole ship. Whether the Exocets' warheads detonated this time or whether their residual fuel ignited the fire has not yet been clarified. The ship burned out completely and the Royal Navy decided to sink the ship. 12 crew members were killed in this attack, including Ian North, the captain of the Atlantic Conveyor .

On June 12, 1982, a vehicle-bound MM.38 was launched by the Argentine armed forces. The target was the British destroyer HMS Glamorgan (D19) , which was about 33 km off the coast at a speed of 20 knots. An Exocet launched a few minutes earlier was unable to lock onto a target and fell into the sea. The launch was from an improvised launch device from Hooker's Point, near Stanley . Warned by the on-board radar, the ship managed to turn the stern of the approaching Exocet . At 0637, the Exocet hit the helicopter deck at an acute angle in the stern area on the port side. From there it slid into the helicopter hangar , where the warhead detonated. The explosion left a 9 × 14 m hole in the hangar. As a result of the explosion of the Exocet and the subsequent fire, 13 crew members died and 15 were injured, some seriously. Nevertheless, the crew managed to extinguish the fire by 10:00 a.m. An emergency repair was then carried out at sea and the ship entered the waters off San Carlos Water . After further repairs, the HMS Glamorgan made the return trip to Portsmouth on June 21 .

First Gulf War

The USS Stark was struck on the morning of May 18, 1987

During the First Gulf War , Iraq deployed a large number of AM.39 Exocets against Iranian warships , oil rigs and especially against civilian tanker and merchant ships. The Super Étendard and Mirage F1 combat aircraft and SA 321 Super Frelon helicopters served as operational platforms . During the so-called tank war , the Iraqi air forces fired 140–160 Exocets at civilian tankers, depending on the source. Of the 136 ships shot at, 16. In addition, 51 ships had to be written off due to substantial damage. In 13 cases, the Exocet's detonator or warhead failed when it hit the thick outer walls of the tanker hulls. Two more Exocets missed their targets and fell into the sea.

On May 17, 1987, an Iraqi Mirage F1EQ-5 fired at the US frigate USS Stark (FFG-31) with two AM.39 Exocets. The Mirage had previously taken off from Shaibah airfield at 8:00 a.m. The first Exocet was launched at 10:10 a.m. from a distance of 42 km and the second from a distance of 29 km. The approaching Exocets were not detected by the on-board radar of the USS Stark . They were only made out visually a few seconds before the impact in the ship . The first Exocet hit the hull at an acute angle on the port side about 3 m above water level with the bridge. The Exocet's warhead did not detonate and the missile drilled itself 4.5 m into the ship's hull. The rocket motor, which was still working, caused a fire in the operations center, the post office and a storage room. The second Exocet hit almost the same spot in the ship 25-40 seconds later. The explosion tore a 3 × 4 m hole in the ship's side. Despite the damage, the ship was saved by the crew. The ship was able to call at a base in Bahrain on its own . The two Exocet hits and the subsequent fire killed 37 crew members and injured 21. The USS Stark was later repaired. The repairs cost about 142 million US dollars .

Versions

Ship-based Exocet designs

Different versions of the Exocet

• MM.38: 1st series version. Introduced in 1975. Approach to target at a height of 2–5 m. Range 38–42 km.
• MM.39: Based on the AM.39. With improved electronics and a new rocket motor . Approach to target at a height of 2–3 m. Range of 50–60 km.
• MM.40 Block 1: Improved MM.39, in use since 1981. Equipped with a modified engine and a new seeker head with an improved search window and a larger frequency selection. Approach to the target at a height of 1.5–2 m. Range 75 km.
• MM.40 Block 2: This version has been in production since 1992 and is a revised Block 1 guided missile with new software. It also has revised control logic that allows it to retry a failed attack. Equipped with an improved engine. With coupled GPS / INS system, a radar seeker with extended ECCM capabilities. With a new igniter with selectable ignition type. Range 65–70 km.
• MM.40 Block 3: Version of the MM.40, in series production since 2008. It uses a Safran Microturbo TR-40/263 turbojet engine instead of the rocket engine. This gives it an increased range of 200 km. Equipped with improved INS / GPS navigation system and data link. The flight route can be programmed with various 3D waypoints. The surface of the guided missile is provided with a RAM coating. The MM.40 Block 3 can also be used against weakly fortified land targets near the coast. For this it is equipped with a new penetration warhead.
• MM.40 Block 3C: With improved digital seeker head with a coherent radar as well as revised mission planning software. The new search head can select targets from groups and determine the optimal point of impact in the target. Introduction from 2018.

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Airborne Exocet versions

• AM.38: Only produced in small series between 1975 and 1977. Range 45 km.
• AM.39 Block 1: Completely revised new design. With improved electronics and a new rocket motor. Introduced in 1979, target approach at a height of 2-3 m. Range 70 km. Used in the Falklands War and the First Gulf War.
• AM.39 Block 2 mod 1: This version has been in production since 1992 and is a revised Block 1 guided missile with new software. It also has revised control logic that allows it to retry a failed attack. Equipped with an improved engine. With a coupled GPS / INS system, a radar seeker with extended ECCM capabilities. With a new igniter with selectable ignition type.
• AM.39 Block 2 mod 2: Based on the MM.40 Block 3. Developed since 2004. Program status not known.

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Submarine based Exocet designs

• SM.38: 1st prototype of the submarine-ship version. Development stopped.
• SM.39 Block 1: 1st series version for use on submerged submarines. In use since 1985. Range 40–50 km.
• SM.39 Block 2: Current version, has been manufactured since 1992 and is a revised Block 1 guided missile with new software. It also has revised control logic that allows it to retry a failed attack. Approach to the target at a height of 1.5–2 m. Equipped with an improved engine. With a coupled GPS / INS system, a radar seeker with extended ECCM capabilities. With a new igniter with selectable ignition type. Range over 50 km.

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Vehicle-specific Exocet versions

• BC.38: Version of the MM.38 for coastal defense. Two launch canisters installed on a truck or on a trailer. This version only exists as a prototype.
• BC.39: Version of MM.39 Block 1 for coastal defense. Four launch canisters installed on a truck or on a trailer. Range of 50–60 km.
• BC.40: Version of the MM.40 Block 2 for coastal defense. Four launch canisters installed on a TRM-10000 truck . It takes around an hour to prepare for combat readiness . Range up to 75 km.

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Technical specifications

designation	MM.38	AM.39 block 1	SM.39	MM.40 block 1	MM.40 block 3
Commissioning	1975	1979	1985	1981	2008
Launch platform	Ships	Planes	Submarines	Ships	Ships
Unit price	$ 350,000-450,000	$ 525,000-650,000	$ 850,000-980,000	$ 490,000-680,000	unknown
length	5.12 m	4.69 m	4.68 m	5.80 m	5.90 m
Hull diameter	350 mm	350 mm	350 mm	350 mm	350 mm
span	1040 mm	1090 mm	1100 mm	1130 mm	1130 mm
Weight	735 kg	670 kg	655 kg	870 kg	780 kg
drive	Solid rocket engine	Solid rocket engine	Solid rocket engine	Solid rocket engine	Booster plus TRI-40/263 turbojet
Warhead	165 kg penetration warhead	165 kg penetration warhead	165 kg penetration warhead	165 kg penetration warhead	165 kg penetration warhead
Steering / seeker head	INS plus active radar target search	INS plus active radar target search	INS plus active radar target search	INS plus active radar target search	INS, GPS, data link plus active radar target search
Airspeed	Mach 0.87-0.93	Mach 0.87-0.93	Mach 0.87-0.93	Mach 0.87-0.93	Mach 0.8-0.9
Operational range	42 km	70 km	50 km	75 km	200 km

Technical data

Carrier aircraft and helicopters

AM.39 under a Dassault Rafale

• Dassault Super Étendard
• Dassault Mirage III
• Dassault Mirage 5
• Dassault Mirage F1
• Dassault Mirage 2000
• Dassault Rafale
• Dassault / Dornier Alpha Jet
• Breguet Atlantic
• CASA CN-235
• Aérospatiale SA321 Super Frelon
• Aerospatiale AS332 Super Puma
• Aerospatiale AS532 Cougar
• Westland WS-61 Sea King

distribution

Exocet MM.38 launch container on the S78 “Ozelot” speed boat of the German Navy

•  Argentina - MM.38 (75), MM.40 (60), AM.39 (30)
•  Egypt - MM.38, AM.39 (40)
•  Bahrain - MM.40 (50)
•  Belgium - MM.38 (40) (no longer in use)
•  Brazil - MM.38 (20), MM.40 (50), AM.39 (25)
•  Brunei - MM.38 (12), MM.40 (20)
•  Bulgaria - MM.38
•  Chile - MM.38 (16), MM.40 (41), AM.39 (28), SM.39 (12), MM.40 Block 3
•  People's Republic of China - Used the AM.39 as a base for in-house production YJ-1 (C-801 Eagle Strike)
•  Germany - MM.38 (150)
•  Ecuador - MM.38 (25), MM.40 (75)
•  France - MM.38, MM.40, AM.39, SM.39, MM.40 Block 3
•  Greece - MM.38 (76), MM.40 (152), AM.39 (50)
•  India - SM.39 (46)
•  Indonesia - MM.38 (60), MM.40 (30), AM.39, MM.40 Block 3
•  Iraq - AM.39 (388) (no longer in use)
•  Iran - AM.39
•  Cameroon - MM.40 (15) (no longer in use)
•  Qatar - MM.40 (190), AM.39 (20), BC.40 (100), MM.40 block 3
•  Colombia - MM.40 (70)
•  Kuwait - MM.40 (64), AM.39 (32)
•  Libya - AM.39 (20)
•  Malaysia - MM.38 (60), MM.40 (50), SM.39 (40)
•  Morocco - MM.38 (50), MM.40 (40), MM.40 Block 3
•  Nigeria - MM.38 (25)
•  Oman - MM.38 (4), MM.40 (162), AM.39, MM.40 Block 3
•  Pakistan - AM.39 (80), SM.39 (25)
•  Peru - MM.38 (69), AM.39 (24), MM.40 Block 3
•  Philippines - MM.40
•  Saudi Arabia - AM.39 (24), MM.40 (50), BC.40
•  Singapore - MM.40
•  South Africa - MM.38 (9), MM.40 (17)
•  South Korea - MM.38 (24)
•  Thailand - MM.38 (24), BC.40 (60)
•  Tunisia - MM.40 (50)
•  Turkey - MM.38 (25)
•  Uruguay - MM.38
•  Venezuela - AM.39 (20)
•  Vietnam - MM.40
•  United Arab Emirates - MM.40 (240), AM.39 (64), MM.40 Block 3
•  United Kingdom - MM.38 (300) (no longer in service)
•  Cyprus - BC.40 (24)

data from

literature

• Duncan Lennox: Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems . Edition 2001, 34th edition Edition, Jane's Information Group, 2001, ISBN 0-7106-0880-2 .
• Duncan Lennox: Jane's Air launched Weapon, Edition 1995 . Jane's Information Group, 1995, ISBN 0-7106-0866-7 .
• Norman. Friedman: The Naval Institute guide to world naval weapons systems . US Naval Institute, 1994. ISBN 1-55750-259-5
• Ian Inskip: Ordeal by Exocet: HMS Glamorgan and the Falklands War 1982 . Barnsley, 2002, ISBN 1-84832-131-7 .
• Gordon Smith: Battle Atlas of the Falklands War 1982 by Land, Sea and Air . Naval-History, 2009, ISBN 1-84753-950-5 .
• Max Hastings, Simon Jenkins: The Battle for the Falklands . WW Norton & Company, 1984, ISBN 0-393-30198-2 .

Web links

Commons : MBDA Exocet  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

• MBDA website (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c} French Navy to Get Significantly Upgraded Exocet MM40 Block 3C. In: navyrecognition.com. Navy Recognition, April 4, 2018, accessed February 22, 2018 . 
2. ↑ ^{a b c d} Duncan Lenox: Jane's Strategic Weapon Systems, Edition 2001. 2001. pp. 68-69.
3. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Противокорабельная ракета Exocet. In: rbase.new-factoria.ru. Retrieved June 15, 2016 (Russian). 
4. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g} Duncan Lenox: Jane's Air launched Weapon, Edition 1995. 2001. p. 104.
5. ^ History of MBDA. Retrieved August 12, 2019 . 
6. ↑ ^{a b} Exocet Report between 1992 and 2012. (No longer available online.) In: deagel.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016 ; accessed on August 18, 2019 . 
7. ↑ ^{a b c d e} AM-39 Exocet. In: airwar.ru. Retrieved June 15, 2016 (Russian). 
8. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} Norman. Friedman: The Naval Institute guide to world naval weapons systems , 1994, p. 109.
9. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m} Míssil anti-navio Exocet. In: sistemasdearmas.com.br. Retrieved June 15, 2016 (Portuguese). 
10. ^ ^{A b c d e} Carlo Kopp: Warship Vulnerability, Technical Report APA-TR-2005-0701. In: ausairpower.net. Air Power Australia, January 27, 2014, accessed June 15, 2016 . 
11. ↑ ^{a b c d e} Martin Rosenkranz: 20 years of aerial warfare for the Falklands. In: airpower.at. August 3, 2002, accessed June 15, 2016 . 
12. ^ ^{A b c d} Norman Friedman: The Falklands War in Retrospect - Hard lessons from a small war. In: defensemedianetwork.com. Defense Media Network, April 2, 2015, accessed June 15, 2016 . 
13. ↑ ^{a b c d} Exocet em Combate. In: sistemasdearmas.com.br. Retrieved June 15, 2016 (Portuguese). 
14. ^ ^{A b c} Gordon Smith: Battle Atlas of the Falklands War 1982 by Land, Sea and Air , 2009.
15. ^ ^{A b c} Max Hastings: The Battle for the Falklands. 1984.
16. ^ The Atlantic Conveyor. In: thinkdefence.co.uk. Think Defense, April 30, 2016, accessed June 17, 2016 . 
17. ^ Ian Inskip, Ordeal by Exocet: HMS Glamorgan and the Falklands War , 1982. pp. 160-185.
18. ↑ Tanker War, 1980–1988. In: acig.info. Air Combat Information Group (ACIG), August 25, 2007, accessed June 14, 2016 . 
19. ↑ Tanker War. In: strausscenter.org. Robert S. Strauss Center, 2008, accessed June 14, 2016 . 
20. ^ Maritime Superiority. In: mbda-systems.com. MBDA, accessed June 14, 2016 . 
21. ^ Missile Index. In: missile.index.ne.jp. Retrieved June 14, 2016 . 
22. ↑ SIPRI Arms Transfers Database. In: sipri.org. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, April 5, 2013, accessed June 15, 2016 .