MBDA is pleased to announce that the Qatari Emiri Navy will procure a batch of Exocet MM40 Block 3 missiles to equip its fleet of four Vita class patrol boats.
This latest generation of naval superiority missile has a significantly extended range thanks to its turbojet propulsion. And, thanks to its GPS navigation, the new Exocet MM40 Block 3 is able to strike a target designated by its geographical coordinates, while remaining compatible with existing MM40 launchers.
The Commander of the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces (QENF), Staff Brigadier (SEA) Mohammed Bin Nasser Al Mohannadi, said “The missile development project is in line with our development plan to update the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces. It is an integrated project which includes training officers and other navy personnel to deal with modernised missile systems, the development of missile launcher systems and updating with the latest technology in the field”.
Antoine Bouvier, CEO of MBDA, stated: “I am honoured that the Qatari Emiri Navy, one of the region’s most demanding armed forces, has decided to prolong its partnership with MBDA which already dates back several decades. In choosing Exocet MM40 Block 3, the Qatari Emiri Navy is not only opting for the most modern of anti-ship capabilities it is also maximising its past investment in the Exocet family, as well as benefiting from all the advantages associated with a weapon series that has achieved sales of 3,500 units around the world”.
The EXOCET family has an OTH (Over The Horizon) firing capability and a range of other operational benefits including:
- low radar signature
- late seeker activation
- sea-skimming at very low altitude
- enhanced target selection and ECCM (Electronic counter-countermeasures)
- high penetration capability against modern naval air defences
Since entering service in 1972, 3,500 EXOCET missiles, in all configurations, have been sold to 35 countries.
MM40 Block3 has been ordered by the French Navy and will equip its variant of the Franco-Italian FREMM frigate. It has also been ordered by several other export customers. In March 2010, the French navy carried out an operational firing of an Exocet MM40 Block3 from its Horizon class Chevalier Paul frigate.
With industrial facilities in four European countries and within the USA, MBDA has an annual turnover of EUR 2.6 billion and an order book of EUR 12 billion. With more than 90 armed forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems.
MBDA is the only group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces (land, sea and air). In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in operational service and more than 15 others currently in development.
MBDA is jointly held by BAE Systems (37.5%), EADS (37.5%) and Finmeccanica (25%).
