Rumors or plans. French Exocet missiles for Ukraine

43

Working with aviation missile AM39

The Kyiv regime continues to beg foreign partners for missile weapons of various classes, and some even agree to provide it. So, in early June, there were reports of a possible delivery of Exocet anti-ship missiles from France. However, there is still no official information on this subject, and in addition, news didn't get a sequel. With all this, the supply of such anti-ship missiles looks doubtful - for technical and political reasons.

News without continuation


About the imminent transfer of certain weapons to Ukraine in recent months becomes from officials or from foreign press publications. Current story with French anti-ship missiles it looks different. Information about the possible delivery of "Exocets" on June 3 was revealed in his microblog by the journalist of the French edition of L'Opinion, Jean-Dominique Merche.



Without specifying the source of the information received, he wrote that France could transfer Exocet missiles to Ukraine. He also recalled what weapon can be used as part of coastal missile systems. At the same time, deliveries have not yet begun due to the lack of the necessary permission. Other details such as modification and number of missiles, delivery times, etc. were not specified.


AM39 missile on a Rafale fighter

J.-D. Mersche answered some questions from subscribers - and did not return to the topic of the transfer of French anti-ship missiles in his microblog. Some French and foreign publications drew attention to the message about the rockets, but could not supplement it with new details.

A week and a half has passed since the appearance of the first messages, but the situation as a whole has not changed. Apart from the statements of the L'Opinion employee, no information about the "Exocets" for Ukraine has yet appeared. Why is unknown. Perhaps this information was not true from the very beginning, and J.-D. Mersche was simply let down by his sources. In addition, it cannot be ruled out that France is indeed preparing to send missiles, but at the moment does not consider it possible to talk about it.

However, the situation may become clearer in the near future. France is actively helping Ukraine with weapons and equipment, and it is quite possible that the next delivery will include missiles.

A product with history


The Exocet product is one of the oldest anti-ship missiles currently in service with different countries. The development of this rocket started back in 1967 and was carried out by the French company Nord Aviation. A few years later, the project passed to the combined company Aérospatiale, which completed the work and brought the rocket to adoption. She carried out the development of the project with the creation of new modifications of the rocket until the beginning of the XNUMXs. Then the project was transferred to the French branch of the international MBDA.


Missile launch by Atlantique 2 patrol aircraft

The first in 1975 went into production and entered service with the modification MM38, designed for surface ships. It is curious that later two countries at once were able to transfer this product to a ground launcher. In the following decades, several new versions of the rocket for various purposes were successively created. So, AM38 and AM39 missiles were made for naval aviation, but only the latter went into the series. For submarines, the SM39 version was intended.

The latest in the family was the MM40 missile for surface ships. She successively went through several upgrades, and in 2010-12. the production of the latest version under the designation Block 3 began. The development of the Exocet family stopped there due to the development of the modernization potential and due to the emergence of more advanced modern projects.

Missiles in formation


The first customer of all Exoset modifications was the French armed forces. Now they are armed with all the main modifications of such anti-ship missiles used on different carriers. However, measures are already being taken to gradually replace them with newer models.

Since the late seventies, Exocet anti-ship missiles have been actively exported. Depending on their needs, foreign customers bought both missiles of specific modifications and the entire available set. For all the time the French industry has managed to find more than 30 foreign customers. Of these, almost a third in the recent past also acquired the latest modification of the MM30 Block 3 anti-ship missiles.


MM40 Block 3 rocket launches from ship

Unlike a number of modern anti-ship missiles, Exocet products have been used in real conflicts several times. So, in 1982, during the war for the Falklands, French missiles were used by Argentina. So, Super Étendard aircraft with AM39 missiles were able to sink the British destroyer HMS Sheffield and the container ship Atlantic Conveyor. In addition, the Argentine army has manufactured an improvised coastal missile system for the MM38 ship anti-ship missiles. He managed to seriously damage the enemy destroyer HMS Glamorgan, but after repairs he returned to service.

Exocet missiles were actively used by Iraq during the war with Iran. According to known data, during the eighties, Iraqi aviation used approx. 600 AM39 items, of which approx. 250 hit the target. At the same time, less than half of the enemy ships were sunk.

However, the most famous was another episode of the use of Iraqi anti-ship missiles. In May 1987, a Mirage F1 fighter fired a pair of AM39 products at the American frigate USS Stark. Both missiles hit the target and damaged it. However, the ship was repairable and was soon able to return to service.

Technical features


Exocet is a subsonic anti-ship missile designed to destroy surface targets of medium displacement. Due to minimal design modifications, the unified RCC can be used by different platforms. At the same time, different versions of the product differ in their tactical and technical characteristics.


Coastal version of the Exocet complex - so far only in the form of a project

All versions of the Exocet are built in a cylindrical body with a diameter of 340 mm and a length of 4,7 m, excluding the starting engine. There are two sets of trapezoidal wings and rudders with a span of up to 1,35 m. Early modifications had a starting weight in the range of 650-670 kg. In the future, it grew and reached 780 kg. Of these, 165 kg falls on a semi-armor-piercing warhead with non-contact or delayed detonation.

Early modifications of the rocket were equipped with a solid propellant engine. The MM40 project used a starting solid propellant rocket engine and a mid-flight turbojet engine. In all cases, a high subsonic flight speed is achieved, but the range varies. So, the early MM38 for ships flew only 40 km, and the aviation AM39 showed a range of 70 km during high-altitude launch. The latest version of the MM40 Block 3 flies 180 km due to the turbojet engine.

All Exocets are equipped with an autopilot with an inertial navigation system and an active radar homing head. At the same time, the exact composition of the devices has repeatedly changed in order to improve performance. The autopilot and INS take the product to a predetermined area, after which the ARGSN searches for a target and ensures its defeat. The last leg of the flight takes place at the minimum altitude for breaking through the air defense / missile defense of the target ship.


SM39 missile on a Scorpène-class submarine

Carriers of "Exocets" can be ships and submarines of various types of foreign construction. So, on ships, launchers based on TPK are used. Aircraft compatible with NATO standards carry missiles on an external sling. MBDA also offers a ground-based missile system, but so far it exists only as a project.

Problem set


It is not yet clear whether France is really going to transfer Exocet missiles to Ukraine. However, it is already clear that such deliveries - like the transfer of other weapons - have no real prospects. The only benefit it can bring is to free up French warehouses for new missiles.

The possibility of supplying a coastal missile system is mentioned, but so far it exists only on paper. Whether MBDA will speed up the project for the sake of Ukraine is a big question. The use of anti-ship missiles on other media is simply impossible. The Kyiv regime lost surface and underwater fleet, and the available tactical aircraft simply cannot carry French / NATO missiles.

The performance characteristics of the Exocet missiles themselves do not fully meet modern requirements. The maximum range of the products of the family reaches only 180 km, which limits their operational capabilities. ARGSN old types can be suppressed by modern electronic warfare. Probably later heads also have their limitations.


Underwater launch "Exocet"

Subsonic speed makes the Exocet missile not the most difficult target for modern shipborne air defense / missile defense. In this case, even a successful breakthrough of the defense will have a limited effect. The 165-kg penetrating warhead has limited potential and is not enough to deal with large ships of the main classes.

Finally, it should be remembered that foreign weapons entering Ukraine will face a common unenviable fate. At the stage of transportation to the combat zone or at firing positions, it is destroyed by the Russian army. Obviously, foreign anti-ship missiles, which pose some danger to the military and merchant fleet, will become a priority target for strikes.

with predictable results


Thus, there is already a familiar situation with a predictable result. Ukraine can be provided with obsolete weapons with limited characteristics and potential. At the same time, they will not be able to show themselves in battle and, most likely, will be quickly destroyed.

However, such an outcome is possible only in the case of the transfer of missiles. However, given the situation of recent days, it can be assumed that the information about the Exocets is just an unconfirmed rumor. But in reality, France will not even allocate obsolete anti-ship missiles.
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  1. +5
    15 June 2022 04: 22
    J.-D. Merche answered some questions from subscribers - and did not return to the topic of the transfer of French anti-ship missiles in his microblog.

    In fact, he did not answer any questions, there was a discussion, during which Jean-Dominique himself asked only one question.

    The level of commentators on the news can be judged by the remark of one of the members of the forum, who spoke in the sense that in order to place these missiles on the coast, the Ukrainian army still needs to get to this coast. That is, he thinks that missiles can only be launched from the coast and that the Black Sea coast is completely controlled by the Russian army.
    Another said that if French missiles were handed over to Ukraine, they would have to be constantly guarded from Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine, who, judging by the context of the comment, would try to destroy or damage them.
    A third wrote that he did not want to pay two types of taxes so that the government would buy missiles with his money and send them against a country that could launch a nuclear strike in retaliation.
    The fourth pointed out that France was playing with fire.
    A fifth wrote that France could thus hasten the start of a great war.

    In addition to all these and many other comments in French, there are two in English. Aggression and pressure in the text hurts the eye, the feeling is that it is the SBU officers who are commenting or the ukroblogers paid by them, like this, for example.

    “France should have sent Exocet missiles to Ukraine a long time ago.
    Putin is sinking deeper and deeper into his psychopathic delusions. The time has come to act now."

    There are a minimum of such aggressive comments.
    1. +3
      15 June 2022 07: 08
      1. The enemy has already received a batch of anti-ship missiles "Harpoon" from Denmark.
      2. There is no point in transferring the Exoset anti-ship missiles without a means of application.
    2. 0
      15 June 2022 14: 12
      Comrade
      ... in the event of the transfer of French missiles to Ukraine, they would have to be constantly guarded from Russian-speaking residents of Ukraine, who, judging by the context of the comment, will try to destroy or damage them.

      But he is right, but not completely. A paradoxical and hopeless situation is emerging. The Russian-speakers will try to destroy and destroy them, the Ukrainian-speaking pan-heads will not be able to launch them, and even go to the sea to throw them from the catapult. But in the Zrado-Peremoga museum, they will probably look good laughing
    3. +1
      16 June 2022 01: 12
      You should have written this article. More sense and information.
      Information about the possible delivery of "Exocets" on June 3 was revealed in his microblog by the journalist of the French edition of L'Opinion Jean-Dominique Merche

      Jean Dominica attract under Art. 207.3 of the Criminal Code "Public dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation" belay
      Subsonic speed makes the Exocet missile not the most difficult target for modern shipborne air defense / missile defense. In this case, even a successful breakthrough of the defense will have a limited effect.

      As someone here wrote: "your exit is Ryabov Kiril, the next one."
      Here he is out
  2. 0
    15 June 2022 04: 36
    I don't care about the hypothetical possibility of ever transferring any weapons to Ukraine in the future. But why are the Armed Forces of Ukraine still shelling Donetsk!!!??? The soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine cannot raise their heads because of the shelling of their positions, they cry, they lose their combat capability (according to VO)! Let me remind you that the Supreme Commander set as the main goal of the NMD the PROTECTION of the population of the Republics. Why has the artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine not yet been suppressed in this critically important direction? I understand that the forces to cover everything and everyone, even the territory. Russia, it doesn't work. I just feel sorry for the people!
    1. +4
      15 June 2022 04: 56
      So part of the artillery units of the NM DPR were removed from the counter-battery fight from Donetsk to liberate the territory of the DPR. In addition, at that time the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not have Western long-range artillery. Therefore, Pushilin turned to Russia for help. It was necessary to introduce Russian artillery into the DPR to destroy the firepower of Avdiivka a long time ago, but the Russian peasant is strong in his hind (late) mind.
    2. -4
      15 June 2022 08: 07
      Because it is from there that they are most difficult to knock out. And do not think that they would not have done it if there was such an opportunity.
  3. -3
    15 June 2022 04: 36
    The author apparently forgot that RRC Moscow died from RCC Neptune, which they also made fun of here and apparently is not able to draw at least some conclusions. And if you remember that on most of our ships of the Black Sea Fleet, the only air defense system is a sailor with MANPADS on deck, it becomes clear that any even the most ridiculous and old anti-ship missiles can drown half of our fleet.
    1. -6
      15 June 2022 05: 34
      Quote: ramzay21
      The author apparently forgot that RRC Moscow died from RCC Neptune, which they also made fun of here and apparently is not able to draw at least some conclusions.

      Witness of Neptune-your deity?
    2. -2
      15 June 2022 08: 06
      Did you personally shoot to confirm?
    3. +1
      15 June 2022 08: 48
      From what the RKR "Moskva" died, no one knows for sure yet.
      1. -1
        15 June 2022 20: 21
        From what the RKR "Moskva" died, no one knows for sure yet.

        They know at the top, but they are afraid to speak and do not know these are different things.
        In our century, everyone who wants to know already knows that two rockets hit him, one of which did not explode. Those who do not want to know say that nothing is known, or he ignited spontaneously.
        1. -1
          15 June 2022 20: 35
          Do you have objective control data? I worked for many years in the police and firmly learned a simple thing - you can only believe what you saw or touched with your hands. Everything else is information that needs to be verified. Even the opinion of an expert is not a guarantee for me, because an expert is also a person and there are a lot of methods to make him write something that was not there or vice versa.
      2. 0
        16 June 2022 15: 28
        Ramsay said so it was
    4. 0
      15 June 2022 11: 35
      As always, he lied about the commies .. Is there a fact or as always?
    5. 0
      16 June 2022 15: 27
      Did you come up with it yourself? Well done.
  4. +2
    15 June 2022 04: 45
    In addition, it cannot be ruled out that France is indeed preparing to send missiles, but at the moment does not consider it possible to talk about it.

    It looks like it. In order to cover the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine, reports of deliveries often appear only after the delivery.
  5. 0
    15 June 2022 06: 18
    With all this, the supply of such anti-ship missiles looks doubtful - for technical and political reasons.
    . Why do they need something, anti-ship?
    The main events take place on land ...
    Although, to stimulate the skakuas, shoot and sink, whatever, yes, it will help to restart the vibration of the skakuas.
    1. fiv
      +3
      15 June 2022 07: 09
      To disperse a barge in the middle of the night in the direction of the Odessa beach and open their defenses, we will see if there are harpoons-exocets-Neptunes there or not. And if they don’t sink, it’s our victory! It will be possible to significantly troll
      1. 0
        15 June 2022 07: 56
        NATO specialists are in charge of intelligence there ... the barge is not of interest to them.
  6. 0
    15 June 2022 07: 58
    "Thus, there is already a familiar situation with a predictable result. Ukraine can be provided with obsolete weapons with limited characteristics and potential. At the same time, they will not be able to show themselves in battle and, most likely, will be quickly destroyed."

    yes, it's easy to say this from the couch
    "Moscow" will not be erased from memory for a long time ...
  7. -2
    15 June 2022 08: 01
    but in general I remember the magazine "Foreign Military Review" probably for 1983, where the 6 missiles used by the Argentines were laid out on the shelves and it turned out well, very cool (this despite the fact that several of them did not explode)
  8. -1
    15 June 2022 08: 05
    And they don't have their own "Neptunes"?
    1. 0
      16 June 2022 01: 15
      Argsn and RV problem now produce
  9. -1
    15 June 2022 08: 46
    Anything is possible, especially considering that the French need to free their warehouses from junk, at the expense of Banderland.
    1. 0
      15 June 2022 21: 24
      The main question is whether there are ground installations for this missile. If not really, there is no point in supplying missiles.
      About "Moscow" and Neptunes. So far there is really little evidence. Neptune was not really adopted and did not really go into the series. Given the calibration of the factory, there should be no more missiles left.
      And there is a version that they laughed at the Neptunes not in vain, but at the "Moscow" and frigates (by the way, at the frigates unsuccessfully), they shot precisely with harpoons. Which are now supplied only on paper, in reality they have been on the theater for a long time.
      1. 0
        15 June 2022 22: 16
        The Argentos, during the Falklands War, were adapted to be launched from the ground and even hit the Glemorgan. And what does it matter if the Danish "harpoons" in the ground version have already been delivered.
        1. 0
          15 June 2022 22: 28
          Quote: TermNachTER
          The Argentos, during the Falklands War, were adapted to be launched from the ground and even hit the Glemorgan. And what does it matter if the Danish "harpoons" in the ground version have already been delivered.

          Danish harpoons delivered 1-2 installations. In any case, the less they put anything, the better.
          1. 0
            15 June 2022 22: 44
            Well, as far as I know, the French did not have ground installations either. Or some kind of alteration, or they will buy their junk from someone, it is not known in what condition.
        2. 0
          16 June 2022 01: 28
          I haven’t found anywhere that Denmark has a BPK.
          There is a UVP Mk56 on Absalon.
          They supplied Kongsberg NSM to Poland.
          They had a complex made of g..and sticks from decommissioned Peder Skram. Their four-container ship launchers for Harpoon Block 1C missiles were removed and attached to the chassis. But they seem to have disposed of 2000m
          1. 0
            16 June 2022 08: 32
            Quote from TreeSmall
            I haven’t found anywhere that Denmark has a BPK.
            There is a UVP Mk56 on Absalon.
            They supplied Kongsberg NSM to Poland.
            They had a complex made of g..and sticks from decommissioned Peder Skram. Their four-container ship launchers for Harpoon Block 1C missiles were removed and attached to the chassis. But they seem to have disposed of 2000m

            Put into storage. Now, at the expense of US funding, they are being removed from storage and transferred to dill. Or they have already transferred it, but now they are legalizing it.
            1. 0
              16 June 2022 09: 01
              Peder Skram-class frigate -2 were built. Reserved 1 (Herluf Trolle (F353))
              F352 turned into a museum.
              Each had 8 × Harpoon SSMs and 4 launchers
              On the BPRK 4 launchers.
              How much Ukraine can transfer?
              Harpoon Block 1C Very old rocket. Long since decommissioned in the US.
              Denmark says no.
              I found them

              In the American secretary and examines them in that distant year. And they didn't like it.

              commercial automobile chassis "Scania" 113M/320 with wheel arrangement 8×6.
              recourse
              I think we are being ripped off
  10. 0
    16 June 2022 15: 21
    I learned from the second paragraph, And I recognize the sweetheart
  11. 0
    16 June 2022 18: 19
    Quote: TermNachTER
    Do you have objective control data? I worked for many years in the police and firmly learned a simple thing - you can only believe what you saw or touched with your hands. Everything else is information that needs to be verified. Even the opinion of an expert is not a guarantee for me, because an expert is also a person and there are a lot of methods to make him write something that was not there or vice versa.

    Are you sure you didn't get the wrong site? Here, not only everyone touched Exoset, Gapun, Neptune, etc. with their hands - few even saw them in nature.
  12. 0
    17 June 2022 01: 37
    Strong article.
    Proofreading stopped here:
    On the imminent transfer of certain weapons to Ukraine

    the so-called journalist: either "those" or "others".
    This is the ABC of journalism - do not create doublethink ..
  13. 0
    6 July 2022 17: 43
    Probably later heads also have their limitations.

    Seriously? The author believes this, I presume? No.
    Subsonic speed makes the Exocet missile not the most difficult target for modern shipborne air defense / missile defense.

    And coupled with an ultra-low flight profile over the crests of the waves - the goal will be even easier. negative
    In this case, even a successful breakthrough of the defense will have a limited effect. The 165-kg penetrating warhead has limited potential and is not enough to deal with large ships of the main classes.

    And if there are several hits, scary to say? How did you react to 2 warheads in 165 kg of the Moskva GRKR with a displacement of 11600 tons?
    Warships have ammunition capable of detonation.
    1. Kim
      0
      27 July 2022 05: 59
      did rockets hit Moscow?
      1. 0
        30 July 2022 18: 20
        Obviously yes. There were anti-ship missiles, the cruiser's air defense systems were outdated and the crew was not prepared to intercept the NLC, and the BC detonated. The probability of a random coincidence tends to zero.
        1. Kim
          0
          22 August 2022 11: 59
          I recommend the channel (TG and Zen) "As a matter of fact." Professional analysis
          It was amazingly tasty to read the Polish Tu-154.
          --------------
          In general, not a rocket.
          1. 0
            23 August 2022 14: 39
            It was amazingly tasty to read the Polish Tu-154.
            --------------
            In general, not a rocket.

            Is this the ultimate truth?
            I repeat: there were all terms in favor of the version that it was an anti-ship missile
            Plus, US reconnaissance aircraft flew in that area at a distance. (Which can track the cruiser from 500KM).
            And the Russian fleet after that (and several more) episodes began to stay away from the Ukrainian coast. (Why would it, apparently there is a missile threat)
            Another piece of the puzzle in favor of my version.
            1. Kim
              0
              24 August 2022 03: 26
              truth in the RF Ministry of Defense
              deem it necessary - tell
              1. 0
                24 August 2022 03: 35
                I'm not interested in what "considered it necessary", I'm interested in the real state of affairs.
                The analysis of events gives various options with their own degree of probability.
                Think interesting request
                1. Kim
                  0
                  24 August 2022 05: 17
                  analysis of events by a non-specialist based on incomplete (or false) information?
                  Everyone has fun as they can :)

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