European defense contractor MBDA has unveiled the latest iteration of its Exocet submarine-launched anti-ship missile, which boasts enhanced range and renewed capability that can identify targets in a highly contested environment.
The latest version of its Exocet missile, the SM40, incorporates significant upgrades to enhance its range and performance. This latest anti-ship missile is specifically engineered to engage heavily protected naval vessels and stealth targets, showcasing the continuing evolution of the Exocet family.
The SM40 distinguishes itself from its predecessor, the SM39, by integrating a new J-Band radio-frequency seeker and advanced algorithms optimized for high-intensity scenarios. These improvements bolster the missile’s capability to identify and discriminate targets in challenging Electronic Warfare scenarios.
Along with these enhancements, an increase in operational range makes the SM40 a powerful weapon. The missile has a doubled effective range of approximately 120 kilometers.
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This is made possible by incorporating a new turbojet engine designed to enhance stand-off distance during anti-submarine warfare operations.
Moreover, the SM40 is built to be compatible with submarines manufactured by Naval Group for seamless integration and a faster market rollout. This reinforces a strategic partnership established by the French shipbuilder to provide a unified customer base for both systems.
Several navies, including those of France and India, have already successfully deployed the SM39 variant.
While the SM40 is specifically tailored for attacking highly protected combat vessels, it also possesses land-attack capabilities, enabling it to strike targets in harbor settings.
Like its predecessor, the SM40 utilizes a propelled and guided underwater vehicle for launch, which has proven effective in previous iterations.
With this launch, MBDA is confident of delivering a “game-changing” capability to Naval Group submarines over the next decade based on a reliable solution that meets the evolving demands of naval warfare.
The company noted, “With this new missile, Exocet remains Navies’ life insurance at sea, whenever, wherever, and in any weather conditions.”
The ‘Mini-Me’ Evolution Of The Exocet MM40 Block 3C
The company also mentioned that the new Exocet missile variant builds upon the technological advancements of MBDA’s Exocet MM40 Block 3C, a ship-launched missile.
This missile’s development began around two years ago and focused on refining its design to fit inside the SM39’s torpedo launch tube capsule. This redesign aimed to reduce the missile’s length and reshape its wings, ensuring minimal integration work and faster deployment.
Stefano Bertuzzi, head of naval systems at MBDA, explained that the new version is essentially a more compact “mini-me” of the MM40 Block 3C.
One of the driving factors behind the development of the SM40 is the increasing complexity of modern maritime threats. With advancements in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, surface ships now possess the ability to detect and engage submarines at greater distances.
Bertuzzi noted that while the SM39 had proven itself reliable, it was originally designed for a more conventional threat environment.
The SM40, by contrast, is designed to tackle a wider range of targets and challenges, offering a more robust response to the evolving maritime battlefield.
The missile’s improved capabilities are vital for ensuring submarine self-defense against various modern and future threats while enabling it to engage even well-defended naval assets.
MBDA Celebrates Production Of 4,000th Missile
Meanwhile, MBDA also announced that it has successfully rolled out its 4,000th Exocet anti-ship missile. This particular unit has been officially handed over to the French Navy, reaffirming the missile’s vital role within modern naval arsenals.
The Exocet missile is known worldwide as one of the premier anti-ship weapon systems. It boasts of exceptional long-range capabilities and “high subsonic” speeds.
Its versatility allows for deployment from various launch platforms, including ships, aircraft, and land-based systems, making it a critical asset for naval operations.
Over the past several decades, the Exocet has become a cornerstone of naval warfare, utilized by 36 countries due to its proven effectiveness against maritime targets.
To commemorate this significant production milestone, MBDA has designed a special model of the 4,000th Exocet missile, which was showcased at the 2024 Euronaval exhibition.
The model’s unique color scheme symbolizes various aspects of the missile’s capabilities, including its reliability and the “fire-and-forget” functionality. This feature is critical in modern naval operations, where situational awareness and speed are paramount.
The company further noted that the Exocet missile excels across diverse conditions, including all-weather scenarios and complex electronic warfare environments, ensuring reliability and effectiveness against various military targets.
According to the MBDA, continuous development and upgrades have ensured that the Exocet remains at the forefront of anti-ship missile technology, with advanced features like improved seekers and missile algorithms seen in the latest variant, the Exocet MM40 Block 3C.
These innovations help maintain the Exocet’s superiority, allowing it to perform optimally in challenging maritime conditions.
“The family is consistently staying at the forefront of innovation, including game changer technologies, such as the new seeker and the new missiles algorithms of the Exocet MM40 B3C,” the company said.
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