Missile AM-39 Exocet
Summary
| Category | Anti-Ship Missile |
| Sub-type | Anti-ship missile |
| Origin country | 🇫🇷 France |
| Manufacturer | Aérospatiale |
Technical specifications
| AM-39 Exocet | |
|---|---|
| Warhead | High Explosive |
| Warhead Weight | 165 kg |
| Diameter | 350 mm (13.8 in) |
| Span | 1004 mm (39.5 in) |
| Length | 4690 mm (184.6 in) |
| Weight | 652 kg (1437 lb) |
| Range | 70 km (43 mi) |
Description
The AM-39 Exocet is a French-made anti-ship missile developed by MBDA. It's an airborne version of the MM-38 and MM-40 Exocet missile family and is designed for launch from fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters. Introduced in the late 1970s, the AM-39 has seen extensive service with various navies and air forces around the world.
The Exocet employs active radar homing for its guidance system, which enables "fire-and-forget" capabilities. Once launched, the missile autonomously seeks and engages its target based on radar signatures. It follows a low-altitude, sea-skimming trajectory to evade radar detection and enemy countermeasures, enhancing its survivability as it approaches the target.
Propelled by a solid-fuel rocket booster for the initial phase and a turbojet engine for sustained cruise, the Exocet is subsonic, with a speed around Mach 0.9. While it may not be as fast as some modern anti-ship missiles, its stealthy approach and proven effectiveness make it a credible threat.
The Exocet is famous for its use in the Falklands War between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982, where it sank the British destroyer HMS Sheffield and the container ship Atlantic Conveyor. These incidents showcased the missile's effectiveness and led to its widespread adoption.
The missile has been developed into multiple versions with varying ranges and capabilities. More modern versions feature improvements in guidance systems, range, and resistance to electronic countermeasures.
Despite its age, the Exocet remains in service and continues to be updated to meet modern naval warfare requirements. It's considered a reliable and effective system for anti-ship warfare, although it faces competition from newer missiles with advanced features like supersonic speeds and more complex guidance systems.