The Brazilian Navy has just signed a contract for the acquisition of a batch of 16 MANSUP anti-ship missiles with the Brazilian company SIATT — a major milestone in a programme that has long been a strategic ambition of the Brazilian naval force.
With an approximate range of 70 km, guidance that combines an inertial navigation system and active radar, a top speed of 1,000 km/h, and a sea-skimming flight profile, the MANSUP is set to replace the MBDA Exocet MM40 Block II missiles currently in use by the Brazilian Navy.
This replacement will take place both aboard the new Tamandaré-class frigates and on existing naval platforms that employ this type of weapon, such as the Niterói-class and Greenhalgh-class frigates, as well as the Barroso corvette. Additionally, the new system will be employed by the Brazilian Marine Corps, which has adapted the launch system of the Astros II platform to operate the MANSUP without requiring modifications to the missile itself — significantly enhancing coastal deterrence and protection within the new operational doctrine that has restructured the organisation and deployment of marine battalions with a focus on littoral operations.
Background of the Project
Under the programme initially designated Barracuda, the national anti-ship missile began development in the 1980s as a partnership between the Brazilian Navy and the aerospace company AVIBRAS. However, progress was slow due to a series of funding issues. In 2009, MBDA signed a technology transfer agreement with AVIBRAS and the former company Mectron, allowing Brazil to carry out the re-engining and upgrade of systems and electronic components.
This partnership was instrumental in revitalising the programme, which from 2012 onwards has been carried forward by AVIBRAS, Mectron, Atech, Omnisys, and the Ezute Foundation. In 2015, SIATT — now part of the EDGE Group — took over Mectron’s role in the programme.
To date, seven MANSUP test launches have been conducted — the first three as prototype trials, and the remaining four to refine and certify various missile systems. Three additional test launches are scheduled for the second half of 2025, concluding the certification phase and giving the green light for full-scale production.
Meanwhile, EDGE, SIATT, and the Brazilian Navy are also committed to finalising the co-development of the MANSUP-ER extended range variant.
You can watch our coverage about MANSUP and MANSUP ER missiles at IDEX 2025 exhibition in Abu Dhabi.
