French Navy begins receiving advanced MM40 Block 3C Exocet missiles VIDEO

The latest variant of the Exocet missile family, the MM40 Block 3C, has officially entered production, promising enhanced capabilities crucial for modern naval warfare.

Pierre-Marie Belleau, product line owner for Deep Strike weapons at MBDA, recently highlighted the advanced capabilities of the latest variant of the Exocet missile family, the MM40 Block 3C, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media. 

He emphasised the missile’s all-weather and environmental capabilities, which are crucial for maintaining effective deterrence in today’s complex combat landscape, particularly amidst increasing electronic warfare (EW) activities observed in regions like the Black Sea and Ukraine. The MM40 Block 3C is designed to operate efficiently across a wide range of conditions, showcasing exceptional resilience in dense EW environments—a key differentiator from other anti-ship missiles on the market.

The new J-Band coherent seeker in the Block 3C represents a significant advancement in missile technology, providing robust protection against various forms of electronic jamming. Belleau confirmed that the MM40 Block 3C program is now in full production, with initial deliveries already underway to the French Navy. Naval News recently visited MBDA’s final integration facility, the largest missile production site in Europe, where both Block 3 and Block 3C missiles are assembled. 

The facility is poised to scale up production to meet demands from new customers. Capt. Jerome Henry, Commanding Officer of the Air Defense FREMM Alsace, shared insights from his experience as the first to test-fire the new missile. Conducted in a realistic operational scenario, the test was successful, with Captain Henry noting the missile's superior EW resilience and accuracy. He emphasized that the MM40 Block 3C enhances capabilities to engage and destroy well-defended adversary warships.

By Naila Huseynova