The French navy has successfully launched the latest Mer-Mer 40 Block 3c (MM40 B3c) missile, an advanced addition to MBDA’s Exocet family, from the Alsace frigate off the Ile du Levant coast.

The MM40 B3c missile is designed for multiple platforms, including ships, submarines, and helicopters.

This new generation boasts enhanced seeker technology and algorithms to cater to modern anti-ship warfare demands.

MBDA CEO Eric Béranger expressed his pride, noting, “It proves the new capabilities of the missile’s latest generation… Exocet is a symbol for MBDA, and this success is further proof of MBDA’s technical excellence.”

The Exocet MM40 B3c is MBDA’s answer to evolving combat scenarios, emphasising its capabilities in complex electronic warfare environments.

You can read more by clicking here.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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48 COMMENTS

  1. How come the French retain the capability to field and evolve weapon systems while the RN buys NSM of the shelf?
    Surely we could do it if we committed?

    • How come…the short answer is that they decided to. Different culture. France decided to have a national industrial early on with industry and the government on the same team. They implemented this by part state ownership of key industries, detailed knowledge of EU subsidy regulations, policy of buying French, no reliance on US components to facilitate exports, top tier diplomacy and so on…with the objective of assuming European leadership e.g. Airbus.

    • How come…the short answer is that they decided to. Different culture. France decided to have a national industrial early on with industry and the government on the same team. They implemented this by part state ownership of key industries, detailed knowledge of EU subsidy regulations, policy of buying French, no reliance on US components to facilitate exports, top tier diplomacy and so on…with the objective of assuming European leadership e.g. Airbus. But I believe they almost cancelled the Rafale program because of its cost.

  2. Hadn’t realised Exocet was still under serious development, thought our joint effort was to replace it or that was the way it was always reported. If so the stated time line looks even less realistic than we had already expressed certainly in French eyes, though I guess overlap is inevitable too so perhaps not quite as contrary as it seems or wouldn’t be had not Harpoon pretty much by comparison to Exocet hit end of life. How could it ever have been seen as possible NOT to have that intermediate capability however long it takes to get the new missiles into service.

    • The development of this new version does not contradict mid term new missile development. I am affraid we may have to demonstrate a far higher level of firepower, next year. Trump is canceling Nato next year. Russia is looking to eat Ukraine in the following month. Turkey is preparing to invade Grèce. What will stop these military powers? Time to produce weapons, train and get ready. R&D is cool. Weapons need to be produced at a far higher pace. Will UK stand by? Will France step up? Who else? Time is going to war.

      • I would say the immediate threat of a Greek Turkish war has past us by…..it was getting a bit sticky in 2022 but both countries have has their elections and greece helped out a lot in the feb earthquake…they are sort of rolling along against with agreements to support each other in some bids for UN positions…there is always the 12 mile question in the Aegean…but greece has moved from..we are doing it now to we will do it when the time is right.

        I’m not sure around the US election that’s a 50/50 but if trump gets in and people don’t manage to talk sense into the man then western/US hegemony is buggered…but I actually think the bigger problem and risk would possibly sit more with the US…than Europe…

        The European NATO nations can easily handle Russian to be honest the overmatch is profoundly….well overwhelming..Russias military has been fought to a stalemate by what was essentially a second world economy….its economy is a shattered one trick pony….The big problem is what that would mean for US European relations…simply put If the U.S. dropped Europe at such a time then effectively the European economies and armed forces would become unaligned….this would be a profound disaster for the US when it inevitably goes to war with china….wars between major powers are all about economic power and resilience as much as armed forces, as such wars are inevitably fought to economic exhaustion…now the U.S. with its 26 trillion dollar economy supported by the 20 trillion dollar European/EU economy would massively overmatch china and any allies it gets ( North Korea, Iran, Russia, South American economies etc ) which all together would hit around 20 trillion..and although a U.S./Europe sino world war would be beyond hard, it’s winnable…utterly destructive but winnable…if on the other hand Europe is unaligned and the U.S. goes to war with china and its Allies with Europe “singing la la we going we are neutral thanks”..and sporting a “anyone want to buy some second hand warships ?”..the US is in a war it would likely win in the end but would really struggle to actually meanfully win and even if it did it would be a pyrrhic victory with both nations shatter and Europe looking around going “want some loans anyone” ?

        • I’m inclined to agree, with the collapse of what’s left of Russia, Europe is not facing any threat that it can’t easily handle itself. For all the talk of Europe needing America, European NATO has 1.8 million personnel. Sure their not as well trained and equipped as US forces but they are still light years ahead of Russia, China or Iran.

          Geopolitically this would be a massive boost for the UK. It’s US power that’s eclipsed the UK since 1945. If the US pulls out of the region the UK is the only power that can really provide any form of European wide leadership.

          The only people adversely affected by the US pulling out of NATO would be East Asian’s. There would be almost no incentive for Europe to participate in any conflict over Taiwan,

          • The UK is the only power that could.

            France won’t like that and will want a French lead EU version of NATO equipped with French weapons paid for by Germany.

            The Norics will say no and nothing will happen.

          • “The UK is the only power that can really provide any form of European wide leadership.”. That ship has sailed, probably better sunk, a few years ago. It’s a matter of politics too, UK political influence is gone I Europe

        • I agree on the analysis at large, but when you consider facts for what they are: Russia has 8% of GDP on military. Turkey, at « peace » as we speak, increased by 150% their military budget in 2024, reaching 40Bn$. For peace keeping operations? No, it is to invade neighbourgs. Target selection: attack the easy prey in Erdogan mind. How long your bases in Cyprus will last?

          • I think that you are correct Erdogan is expansionist..but he has a boarder with Syria and an ongoing multi ethnic conflict, I would say if it does not get him votes and secure his power base he will leave Greece alone…being hard line with the Kurdish enclaves in Syria will keep him happy.

          • I would like to be so sure, but I am not. Too many threats issued publicly, too many applause. This guy is a dictator in the making and Turkey is no longer an ally, soon we will be ennemy. France has an alliance with Greece. We will have to fight the Turcs before long. And I am not 100% sure of the strength of EU military alliance. Would have been nice if France and UK would be allied in that matter.

          • If there was ever renewed fighting between turkey and Greece it will probably spark in Cyprus then the UK would be involved, infact it sort of has a obligation around the 1960 treaty of guarantee..article 2 of the treaty essentially allows Greece, turkey and the UK to go to war if any of the three sides think the Guarantee has been breached…essentially it’s a have a legal war ticket under international law…this was why Turkey invaded and occupied part of the is
            Island in 74..the Greek government at that time was in the last gasp of dictatorship and decided to sponsor an overthrown of the Cypriot government. Also article 3 means the UK owns part of the island and would need to defend itself even if it decided to not to intervene in the wider islands conflict.

      • Assuming he wins again. Wouldn’t it need to go through Congress? Also, you would think that the Pentagon would allow this to happen because wouldn’t it mean losing airbases in Europe?

        • Congress passed a law this year stating a 2/3rds majority vote is required for US to leave NATO. It would be up to Supreme Court to test the validity of the law if it ever happened.

          As for Pentagon it’s not up to them at the end of the day but pulling out of NATO would be a massive strategic blow to US power. As big a reduction as Indian independence was to the British empire.

          Americas military is impressive but it’s political will is it’s Achilles heal. Having Europe onside opens up non military threats like sanctions that are much more likely to be used against China than directly military action.

          The US leaving NATO strips it of Europes industrial and financial weight and leaves a power vacuum China could easily exploit.

        • Sound reasonable. Like assumptions Trump will not be elected, China will not attack Taïwan, Turquey is joking n their threats to Greece or USA will back Europe in nuclear war. Facts: Russia is at war with Ukraine, Turks increase their military spendings by 150% in 2024. When will we all simply be prepared? Facts: France has quadrupled the rate of canon production, tripled the rate for Rafale production and double the rate for missile production. What about UK?

      • If NATO goes as you say then will the UK have any commitments to look after? Russia is a joke and China is very far away. The UK’s little corner of the world is safer than it’s ever been.

        • This distant PRC attacks us daily with cyber attacks & had seduced the Tories into several compromising deals/donations.

        • Sure… but then what will you interract with? You prefer ennemy 3000 km away or on the coast next to you?
          You know what happens when Danish have hostile government.

      • “Trump is canceling Nato next year. Russia is looking to eat Ukraine in the following month.” What on earth is that supposed to mean?

        • 2/3 of Ukraine weapons comes from USA. No weapons, no Warriors. Trump is likely to be elected. He say in severall public speeches he will not provide military hardware to Ukraine. He say he will not send any army to Europe. What on earth do you think will happens in Europe? Russia is increasing at high pace military production. Will they stop after Ukraine? Why so? What for? If UK and France don’t speed up military production right now, the world we know will change in the next 2 years.

    • AFAIK, Italy is now in the FC/ASW Programme, there was a recent update which said there will still be Two different Weapons, the Land Attack Subsonic Cruise Missile Variant should be ready for 2028,while the Anti – Ship Supersonic version will enter service around 2034.

        • NSM doesn’t fit in mk41. It is canister launched only (although there is a helicopter launched version). JSM (designed for fast jet use), will fit in mk41 & torpedo tubes, but has not been fielded officially in any form as yet (Japan has ordered it for their F35 fighters).

      • Hope that the UK gets both. Surprised at the leadtime differences. All taking way too long. And if anything is needed sooner we have the Tomahawks, NSM, and old Harpoons! Lots of MK41s vls to fill still!

  7. I thought we were tearing our hair out over getting this interim SSM for fear of making France think we’re not fully committed to our joint programme?
    Surely this updated Exocet must be export only?

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