Non-Subscriber Extract
Chile to upgrade sub-launched Exocets
By José Higuera
09 June 2009
The Chilean Navy is negotiating the acquisition of a digital control upgrade for its SM-39 submarine-launched Exocet anti-ship missiles, sources in Santiago have told Jane's .
The upgrade was recently cleared for export by the missile's European manufacturer, MBDA.
The upgrade package integrates digital components of the control system of the MM-40 Block III Exocet to replace analogue components currently in the SM-39 missiles, allowing for the use of GPS guidance and adding a land-attack capability. Between 10 and 12 examples of the SM-39 were procured by Chile in 2006 for deployment on board its two French/Spanish-built O'Higgins (Scorpene)-class submarines.