France MBDA
Exocet MM40 Block 3
A French sea-skimming anti-ship cruise missile family, made famous by its use against Royal Navy ships in the 1982 Falklands War, with the ship-launched MM40 Block 3 adding a turbojet for extended range and land-attack capability. It remains a mainstay anti-ship weapon of the French Navy and dozens of export customers.
In service since 2010 · 30 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
200
km range
0.9
Mach
165
kg warhead
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
French export-licensed
CIEEMG inter-ministerial approval; broadly export-oriented.
Channel: DGA / direct commercial
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 30 operators
In service since 2010. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters. | 0.9 Mach |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 200 km |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Warhead Warhead mass. Heavier generally means larger effect radius, at the cost of range. | 165 kg |
|---|---|
| Warhead type Blast-fragmentation, shaped charge (HEAT), penetrator, thermobaric or nuclear-capable. | Semi-armor-piercing blast |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Active radar homing, GPS/INS mid-course update |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 5.8 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 780 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turbojet with solid rocket booster |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 30 |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public MBDA and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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See how it stacks up
Boeing AGM-86 ALCM Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3? +
The MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3 has a maximum range of 200 km.
How much does the MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3 weigh? +
The MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3 has a combat weight of 780 kg.
What is the MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3 used for? +
The MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3 is a missile typically used for deep strike.
How many countries operate the MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3? +
The MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3 is operated by 30 countries.
How much does the MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3 cost? +
MBDA Exocet MM40 Block 3: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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