TSAMTO, October 21. The Peruvian Navy conducted the first live firing exercises using MM-40 Exocet Block-3 Surface-to-surface and AM-39 Exocet air-to-surface missiles developed by MBDA Group.
According to Jane's Navy International with reference to the Peruvian Navy, the launch was carried out on September 30 from the frigate (FM-57) "Bolonesi" of the Lupo class. According to representatives of the Navy, after flying 172 km (92 nautical miles), the missile successfully hit the target, which was used as a decommissioned landing ship (DT-143) "Callao". This was the first launch of the MM-40 Exocet Block-3 rocket since they were put into service five years ago.
Later, the same target was hit by an AM-39 Exocet missile launched from the SH-3D Sea King helicopter from a distance of 36 km (19 nautical miles). The helicopter took off from the supply transport ARL-158 "Tacna" (formerly A836 "Amsterdam").
As noted, after firing from the board of the frigate (FM-57) "Bolonesi", the MM-40 "Exocet" Block-3 missile became the "record holder" among the armed Forces of the Peruvian Navy, surpassing the previous record set during the exercises held in 2008, when the frigate (FM-55) "Aguirre" hit the target with the Otomat-2 missile of the MBDA group at a distance of 153 km.
