DEFEA 2021: MBDA proposes its Exocet mobile coastal defense missile system.

At DEFEA 2021, a defense exhibition in Greece, MBDA proposes a mobile coastal defense system based on an 8x8 military truck chassis fitted with a container launcher unit with four canisters for Exocet French-built anti-ship missile.

Scale model of MBDA Exocet mobile coastal defense system at DEFEA 2021, International Defense Exhibition in Greece. (Picture source Army Recognition)

The Exocet mobile coastal defense system provides rapidly relocatable, vehicle mounted capabilities to deny access to surface threats in littoral and strategic areas. The system is based on the latest version of the EXOCET MM40 BLOCK 3 missile which is in service with several navies around the world.

The Block 3 missile accepts GPS guidance system waypoint commands, which allow it to attack naval targets from different angles and to strike land targets, giving it a marginal role as a land-attack missile. The Block 3 Exocet is lighter than the previous MM40 Block 2 Exocet.

The EXOCET MM40 BLOCK 3 is further enhanced by the accuracy of its new navigation package which allows for optimized 3D approach trajectories and terminal attacks from different azimuths at a very low sea-skimming altitude. Terminal guidance relies on a sophisticated J-band active RF seeker to discriminate and select targets at sea and on GPS accuracy for littoral targets.

The EXOCET MM40 BLOCK 3 missile has a weight of 780 kg, a length of less than 6 m, and a diameter of 350 mm. The missile has an effective operational range of 200 km.

The Exocet mobile coastal defense system comprises its own sensors (radar, EOS, AIS) for autonomous operations and/or connection to a wider C3I system. A battery includes one Mobile Sensors Unit, one Mobile Control Unit, and two Mobile Firing Units each with 4 missiles.