MBDA Exocet

Exocet is a French anti-ship cruise missile, built by MBDA, that comes in versions launched from surface ships, submarines, helicopters and aircraft. Development began in 1967 at Nord as the ship-launched MM38, which entered service in 1975, and the air-launched AM39 followed in 1979. The missile skims one to two metres above the sea, is guided by inertial navigation in mid-flight and switches on an active radar seeker late in its approach. Early versions have a solid propellant rocket motor and a range of about 70 kilometres, while the MM40 Block 3 adds a turbojet sustainer and reaches more than 180 kilometres. It is designed to attack small and medium warships such as frigates, corvettes and destroyers.