Breaking news
French Navy Lafayette Class Frigate Surcouf in MM40 Block II Exocet Anti-Ship Missile Exercise.
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Naval
Forces News - France |
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French
Navy Lafayette Class Frigate Surcouf in MM40 Block II Exocet
Anti-Ship Missile Exercise |
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The
French Navy (Marine Nationale) announced its Lafayette
class frigate Surcouf (second ship of the class) launched an
MBDA-made MM40 Block II Exocet anti-ship missile during a live fire
test which took place on November 25 2015. The missile hit its target
with high accuracy, showing the expertise of the French Navy to implement
and maintain a complex weapons system for high-intensity conflict. |
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 The French Navy Lafayette class frigate Surcouf (designated light stealth frigate in the French Navy) is seen here launching its MM40 Block II anti-ship missiles. Picture: French Navy |
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According
to the French Navy, the goal of the test was to train the crew in anti-surface
warfare (ASUW) in general, and to maintain the operational skills of
the French Navy in deploying the Exocet anti-ship missile in particular. |
 The French Navy Lafayette class frigate Surcouf (designated light stealth frigate in the French Navy) is seen here launching its MM40 Block II anti-ship missiles. Picture: French Navy |
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The
French Navy describes the MM40 Block II as an "over the horizon"
missile. It is the main ASUW weapon on board the Cassard
class (F70AA), Leygues
class (F70 ASM), and Lafayette
class frigates. Main specifications of the missile: Length : 5,20 m Diameter : 0,35 m Weight : 735 kg Warhead : 165 kg Speed : Mach 1 Range : 70 km Exocet, in production since 1972, was the West’s first long range anti-ship missile with "fire and forget" and sea-skimming flight capabilities. Since entering service in 1972, 3,600 EXOCET missiles, in all configurations, have been sold to 35 countries. The MM40 Block II onboard Lafayette class frigates will ultimatly be replaced by the newer Block III version currently under production by MBDA. The Block III features many improvements: It is fitted with a booster and has a significantly extended operational range making it a 200 km class weapon and features open ocean, littoral and coastal land attack capabilities. The new Block III is compatible with Block II launchers. |
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 Lafayette frigate. Picture: Marine Nationale / Emmanuel Rathelot |
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The
French Navy's La Fayette Class multipurpose stealth frigates were developed
and built by DCNS. The French Navy awarded DCNS the contracts to construct
the La Fayette (F710), Surcouff (F711) and Courbet (F712) frigates in
1988, and Aconit (F713) and Guepratte (F714) in 1992. The La Fayette Class incorporates a number of stealth features – the sides of the vessel are sloped at 10° to minimize radar cross section, surfaces are made of alloy, reinforced plastic and kevlar. The profiles of external features have been reduced. To learn more: Link to Lafayette class Frigate technical datasheet |
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