Exocet

Exocet is a landmark anti-ship missile family. MBDA describes it as internationally recognized for anti-ship capability, and its combat history made the missile a symbol of the missile-age threat to surface ships. Its importance comes from showing that relatively small aircraft, ships or coastal batteries could threaten high-value naval targets.

Exocet capability is not limited to one launcher. The family includes surface-launched, air-launched, coastal-defense and submarine-launched versions, allowing navies to build layered maritime strike. Low-altitude flight and modern mission planning make the missile relevant in littoral and open-ocean engagements.

Exocet matters because it changed naval risk perception. Its use in conflicts demonstrated that ships needed better sensors, decoys, close-in defenses and electronic warfare against sea-skimming missiles. Modern Exocet variants keep that legacy alive while competing with newer anti-ship weapons.