Information about Exocet
- In older English literature there are some uses of "exocet" to mean "flying fish".
| Exocet | |
|---|---|
) Exocet | |
| Basic data | |
| Function | Medium-range anti-ship missile |
| Manufacturer | MBDA's division Aérospatiale |
| Entered service | 1979 |
| General characteristics | |
| Engine | solid propellant engine |
| Launch mass | 670 kg |
| Length | 4.7 m |
| Diameter | |
| Wingspan | 1.1 m |
| Speed | 315 m/s |
| Range | 70-180 km |
| Flying altitude | 2 m |
| Warhead | 165 kg |
| Guidance | Inertial and active radar |
| Launch platform | multi-platform:
|
The Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, and airplanes. Several hundred were fired in combat during the 1980s. The name comes from a French word for flying fish.
Description
The Exocet is built by MBDA, a European missile company. Development began in 1967 as a ship-launched missile named MM 38. The air-launched Exocet was developed in 1974 and entered service with the French Navy five years later.The missile is designed to hit large warships. It is guided inertially in mid-flight, and turns on active radar late in its flight to find and hit its target. Its solid propellant engine gives the Exocet a maximum range of 70 km. The submarine-launched version places the missile and a Naval booster motor within a launch capsule.
The Exocet has been manufactured in a number of versions, including:
- MM38 (surface-launched)
- AM39 (air-launched)
- SM39 (submarine-launched)
- MM40 (surface-launched)
The chief competitor to the Exocet is the U.S.-built Harpoon and the Chinese Yingji series.
History
)
Exocet missile impact
)
Exocet launch
Falklands Conflict
In 1982, during the Falklands War, Exocets became famous worldwide when Argentine Navy Super Etendard warplanes used them to destroy Royal Navy's HMS Sheffield on 4 May and sink the support ship Atlantic Conveyor on 25 May. As well, an Argentine-converted land-based truck fired an MM38 Exocet (previously dismounted from the Argentine destroyer ARA Guerrico [1]) that damaged HMS Glamorgan on June 12.Argentina claims that an Exocet-armed Super Etendard attack on May 30 damaged HMS Invincible. This claim is widely regarded as entirely unfounded, not least due to the continued operation of undamaged Invincible in the campaign. It should be noted that during the conflict the Argentinian military Government claimed several times to have damaged/shot down several ships (with multiple previous claims for having damaged and/or sunk both the Invincible and the Hermes, the two most important British warships) and Sea Harriers, partially due to the natural confusion of battle and partially for propaganda purposes. Similarly, the British claimed to have destroyed more Argentine aircraft than they actually did for the same reasons.[2]
The Exocet that struck Sheffield impacted on Deck 2, 8 feet (2.4 m) above the waterline, near to the forward engine room, cracking the hull open roughly 4 feet (1.2 m) by 10 feet (3 m). There remains uncertainty as to whether or not the warhead exploded. Accounts suggest that the initial impact of the missile immediately destroyed the ship's onboard electricity generating systems and fractured the water main, preventing the anti-fire mechanisms from operating effectively, and thereby dooming the ship to be consumed by the raging fire. Although the loss of Sheffield was a major shock to the British, the missile used earned itself a curious kind of respect, and the word “Exocet” passed into British colloquial usage to denote, “a devastating attack.” It is still occasionally heard, and as of 2007, remains widely understood. There has been speculation that the Exocet that struck Sheffield did not explode, however the crew of Sheffield and members of the British Task Force strongly disagree with this. The official report from The RN Board of Inquiry now available (2007) on the Internet specifically indicates that from the evidence available the missile warhead did indeed fail to explode. This would suggest that the damage caused was as a result of the significant kinetic energy of the missile and the presence of unused missile fuel which caught fire on impact.
The Exocet that struck Glamorgan failed to explode, but the unburnt rocket fuel caused a significant fire. It is likely that Glamorgan was saved from complete destruction by the prompt action of the officers and men at the helm. In the short warning period (less than 1 minute) that a missile was incoming, they ordered maximum revolutions and maximum wheel towards the missile. As a result when the missile struck, the ship was heeled far over to port and instead of striking the side the missile hit the coaming and was deflected upwards. The dent caused by the impact was clearly visible when Glamorgan was being refitted in late 1982.
In the years after the Falklands War it was revealed that the British government and intelligence agencies were extremely concerned by the perceived inadequacy of the British navy’s anti-missile defences against the Exocet and the missile’s potential to tip the naval war decisively in favour of the Argentine forces. In London, a nightmare scenario was being envisioned in which one or both of the UK force’s two aircraft carriers (HMS Invincible and HMS Hermes) would be destroyed or incapacitated by an Exocet attack. Under such circumstances, military analysts considered that the British would have had serious difficulty in further prosecuting an attempt to recapture the Falklands from the Argentine forces. To counter the threat posed by the Exocet, a major intelligence operation was initiated to prevent the Argentine Navy acquiring more of the missiles and British intelligence (believed to have been assisted by American intelligence) launched a global operation to disrupt Argentine attempts to procure new Exocets for the campaign. The operation included the seeding of intelligence agents whose task was to make contact with the Argentine military and falsely purport to be able to provide them with Exocets. Also, France denied deliveries of recently-purchased AM39 to Peru in the belief that they would be given to Argentina.
Middle East
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USS Stark hit by two Exocets
On May 17, 1987, the pilot of an Iraqi Mirage F-1 allegedly mistook the U.S. Navy Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate USS Stark for an Iranian tanker and fired two Exocets at the warship. Both hit, but only one exploded. The first penetrated the port-side hull; it failed to detonate, but spewed flaming rocket fuel in its path. The second entered at almost the same point, and left a 3-by-4-metre gash then exploded in crew quarters. Thirty-seven sailors were killed and twenty-one were injured. Stark was heavily damaged, but saved by the crew and sent back for repairs. The errant pilot was reportedly executed for his error, which had the dual effect of rendering him unavailable for an inquiry into the attack.
Misc
In the late 1970's a civilian from Falmouth, Cornwall accidentally recreated part of the Exocet's navigation system in one of his own inventions. The "Lokata", a small boat type navigation system.Operators
)
MM38 Exocet missiles on board German Navy S74 Nerz, Type 143A Gepard class fast attack craft
)
AM39 under a Dassault Rafale
Current operators
- Argentina (Argentine Navy: MM38, MM40 and AM39)
- Belgium
- Brazil (Brazilian Navy: MM38, MM40 Block 2/2 and AM39)
-
Colombia
Cyprus (MM40)
Ecuador (MM40)
Egypt
France
- (will be replaced by RBS 15)
Greece ( MM38 , MM40 , AM39)
Indonesia ( MM38 , MM40 Block 2)
Iran
Iraq
- Kuwait
Libya
- Malaysia (Royal Malaysian Navy: MM38, MM40 Block 2)
Morocco
Oman
- Pakistan
Peru (Peruvian Navy: AM39, MM38)
Qatar
-
Former operators
United Kingdom: Royal Navy operated Exocets until the last MM38 armed surface vessel was decommissioned in 2002.
In popular culture
I’m telling you that I met the man twice and I’ve recommended a pre-emptive Exocet missile strike against his air force."
In the movie Top Gun, the "MiG" fighters in the final air combat sequence were briefed to possibly be carrying the Exocet missile.Etymology
The origin of the word is Greek εξώκητον = 'external (out of water) cetacean or large sea animal'. In Greek 'κήτος' is used for larger sea animals like whales, but in modern Greek can also be applied to flying fish. Not to be confused with 'κύτος' which means hull (of a ship).References
External links
- Gallery of photographs of various variants of the Exocet missile (French)
- Argentine Account of the role of the Exocet in the Falklands War (English)
- Photos of Exocet damage to USS Stark (English)
Lists of Aircraft | Aircraft manufacturers | Aircraft engines | Aircraft engine manufacturers | Airlines | Air forces | Aircraft weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation Exocoetidae
Genera
Cheilopogon
Cypselurus
Danichthys
Exocoetus
Fodiator
Hirundichthys
Oxyporhamphus
Parexocoetus
Prognichthys
Flying fish
..... Click the link for more information.This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject.
Please help recruit one or [ improve this article] yourself. See the talk page for details.
..... Click the link for more information.Exocet <nowiki /> Category Display
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Designer(s) Jonathan Barnbrook <nowiki /> <nowiki />
Foundry Emigre <nowiki /> <nowiki /> <nowiki /> <nowiki /> <nowiki /> <nowiki /> <nowiki />
..... Click the link for more information.MBDA
Founded December 2001
Headquarters London, England, UK
Key people Antoine Bouvier (CEO)
Industry Defence
Products Missiles
Revenue €3,500 million[1]
Employees 10,600[1]
Parent BAE Systems (37.5%)
EADS (37.
..... Click the link for more information.Aérospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that primarily built both civilian and military aircraft and rockets.
The company was created in 1970 from the state-owned companies Sud Aviation, Nord Aviation and
..... Click the link for more information.A propellant is a material that is used to move an object by applying a motive force. This may or may not involve a chemical reaction. It may be a gas, liquid, plasma, or, before the chemical reaction, a solid.
..... Click the link for more information.kilogram or kilogramme (symbol: kg) is the SI base unit of mass. The kilogram is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram (IPK), which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water.
..... Click the link for more information.1 metre =The metre or meter[1](symbol: m) is the fundamental unit of length in the International System of Units (SI).
SI units
1000 mm 0 cm
US customary / Imperial units
0 ft 0 in
..... Click the link for more information.wingspan (or just span) of an airplane is the distance from the left wingtip to the right wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about 60 m (200 feet).
..... Click the link for more information.Metre per second (U.S. spelling: meter per second) is an SI derived unit of both speed (scalar) and velocity (vector quantity which specifies both magnitude and a specific direction), defined by distance in metres divided by time in seconds.
..... Click the link for more information.1 kilometre =A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer, symbol km
SI units
0 m 0106 mm
US customary / Imperial units
0 ft 0 mi
..... Click the link for more information.warhead is the bullet-shaped silver canister in the middle-left of the photograph.]]
Typically, a warhead is the explosive material and detonator that is delivered by a missile, rocket, or torpedo.
..... Click the link for more information.Motto
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité
"Liberty, Equality, Fraternity"
Anthem
"La Marseillaise"
..... Click the link for more information.Anti-ship missiles are a missile designed for use against ships. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type and use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing.
..... Click the link for more information.Exocoetidae
Genera
Cheilopogon
Cypselurus
Danichthys
Exocoetus
Fodiator
Hirundichthys
Oxyporhamphus
Parexocoetus
Prognichthys
Flying fish
..... Click the link for more information.MBDA
Founded December 2001
Headquarters London, England, UK
Key people Antoine Bouvier (CEO)
Industry Defence
Products Missiles
Revenue €3,500 million[1]
Employees 10,600[1]
Parent BAE Systems (37.5%)
EADS (37.
..... Click the link for more information.The French Navy, officially the Marine Nationale (National Navy) and often called La Royale (The Royal [Navy]), is the maritime arm of the French military.
..... Click the link for more information.warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat . Warships are usually built in a completely different way than merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuverable than merchant ships.
..... Click the link for more information.An inertial-navigation system is a navigation aid that uses a computer and motion sensors to continuously track the position, orientation, and velocity (direction and speed of movement) of a vehicle without the need for external references.
..... Click the link for more information.Radar is a system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range, altitude, direction, or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as aircraft, ships, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain.
..... Click the link for more information.solid rocket or a solid-fuel rocket is a rocket with a motor that uses solid propellants (fuel/oxidizer). The earliest rockets were solid fueled, powered by gunpowder, used by the Chinese in warfare as early as the 13th century.
..... Click the link for more information.1 kilometre =A kilometre (American spelling: kilometer, symbol km
SI units
0 m 0106 mm
US customary / Imperial units
0 ft 0 mi
..... Click the link for more information.navy is the branch of a country's military forces principally designated for naval warfare and amphibious warfare (marines) namely lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions.
..... Click the link for more information.A launch capsule is used to propel a submarine-launched missile to the ocean surface. Upon reaching the surface, the capsule is jettisoned, and the missile continues its journey propelled by the booster motor.
..... Click the link for more information.Function anti-ship missile
Manufacturer Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
Unit cost US$720,000
Entered service 1977
General characteristics
Engine turbojet engine
Launch mass
..... Click the link for more information.Function anti-ship missile
Manufacturer China Haiying Electromechanical Technology Academy (中国海鹰机电技术研究院)
Entered service 1989
General characteristics
Engine
..... Click the link for more information.19th century - 20th century - 21st century
1950s 1960s 1970s - 1980s - 1990s 2000s 2010s
1979 1980 1981 - 1982 - 1983 1984 1985
Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII
..... Click the link for more information.Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de las Malvinas/Guerra del Atlántico Sur), also called the Falklands Conflict/Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands, South Georgia
..... Click the link for more information.Navy of the Argentine Republic or Armada of the Argentine Republic ((Spanish): Armada de la República Argentina — ARA) is the navy of Argentina.
..... Click the link for more information.Type Attack aircraft
Manufacturer Dassault-Breguet
Maiden flight 1974-10-28
Introduced June 1978
Status Active
Primary users French Navy
Argentine Navy
Iraqi Air Force
Number built 74
The
..... Click the link for more information.
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