MBDA’s TESEO MK2/E anti-ship missile has completed a validation firing for the Italian Navy, bringing its development phase closer to completion.
During the approximately 20-minute piloted cruise flight, the test validated the missile’s range and confirmed its design. The trial marks a key step toward completing qualification and entering production, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028.
Launched in 2021, the MK2/E is an entirely new weapon system that significantly enhances the anti-ship capabilities of the TESEO missile line. It will complement the Mk2/A, which is already in service aboard the Italian Navy’s FREMM and Horizon-class frigates.
Under a production contract signed in 2025, the MK2/E will equip the Italian Navy’s new surface combatants, including FREMM EVO-class frigates, PPA vessels, and the forthcoming DDX-class destroyers.
“I am extremely proud of this result, which will guarantee a unique sovereign capability to Italy and the Italian Navy and will pave the way for further international success for MBDA, thanks to the system’s cutting-edge anti-ship performance,” Executive Vice President of Sales & Business Development and Managing Director of MBDA Italia Renzo Tosini said.
TESEO MK2/E
The TESEO MK2/E is designed for long-range maritime and land strike missions, building on the Mk2/A while incorporating newer technologies and capabilities.
Its dual-mode seeker combines an AESA radio-frequency seeker with electronic counter-countermeasures and an electro-optical sensor, enabling precision engagement of both sea and land targets.
An automated mission-planning system provides firing solutions while allowing operators to adjust mission parameters according to the tactical situation.
A two-way data link enables in-flight control, including target updates, reassignment, and mission abort. High-subsonic cruise speed, high-G terminal maneuverability, and a range exceeding 350 kilometers (217 miles) give the missile nearly twice the range of the Mk2/A, which is rated at 180 kilometers (112 miles).
For navigation, the missile combines INS/GPS with a radar altimeter, supporting both sea-skimming and overland flight.