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France MBDA
Exocet SM39
The submarine-launched variant of France's Exocet anti-ship missile family, ejected from a standard 21-inch torpedo tube inside a buoyant capsule before igniting once clear of the water. It arms French Navy attack and ballistic-missile submarines with a sea-skimming anti-ship strike option.
In service since 1984 · 6 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
50
km range
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
Established · 6 operators
In service since 1984. 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.
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 50 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. | HE shaped-charge fragmentation |
| Guidance How the weapon finds its target: inertial, GPS/GLONASS, active/semi-active radar, infrared, laser, TV, wire. | Inertial navigation, Active radar terminal seeker |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 4.69 m |
|---|---|
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 655 kg |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Solid-fuel rocket |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 6 |
|---|
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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Boeing AGM-86 ALCM Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the MBDA Exocet SM39? +
The MBDA Exocet SM39 has a maximum range of 50 km.
How much does the MBDA Exocet SM39 weigh? +
The MBDA Exocet SM39 has a combat weight of 655 kg.
What is the MBDA Exocet SM39 used for? +
The MBDA Exocet SM39 is a missile typically used for deep strike.
How many countries operate the MBDA Exocet SM39? +
The MBDA Exocet SM39 is operated by 6 countries.
How much does the MBDA Exocet SM39 cost? +
MBDA Exocet SM39: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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