MBDA awarded TESEO MK2/E contract for Italian Navy
MBDA has secured a major production contract with the National Directorate of Naval Armaments to supply its next-generation TESEO MK2/E anti-ship missile to the Italian Navy. The deal follows a previous development agreement signed in 2021 and marks a step forward in modernising Italy’s naval capabilities.
The new missiles are set to arm a range of the Italian Navy’s new vessels, including the FREMM EVO class frigates, the Multi-Purpose Combat Ships (PPA), and the next-generation DDX destroyers, the September 29 press release states. This will see the TESEO MK2/E complementing the older MK2/A version, which is already in service on the FREMM and Horizon class naval units.
The TESEO MK2/E is an entirely new weapon system designed to counter evolving threats. Its advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) seeker technology enables it to engage both naval and land-based targets at very long range. The missile also features sophisticated mission planning, allowing for in-flight control via a satellite data link and offering a secondary “deep strike” capability.
Lorenzo Mariani, MBDA’s Executive Group Director of Sales & Business Development and the Managing Director of MBDA in Italy, expressed his pride in the agreement. “Starting the production of TESEO MK2/E demonstrates not only that the product is mature and fully compliant with the Navy’s requirements, but also that it perfectly complements MBDA’s portfolio,” he stated. Mariani added that the missile sets “a new benchmark capability in the anti-ship domain” and would also be offered to international markets.
The TESEO family of missiles, known globally as the OTOMAT, has a decades-long history of service. The new MK2/E version builds on this legacy, offering enhanced flexibility and adaptability to meet the needs of potential international customers. The production contract signals a new era for Italy’s naval anti-ship capabilities, solidifying its place among the most formidable fleets.
TESEO MK2/E vs TESEO MK2/A
The TESEO MK2/A being launched from a ship. It is a large missile designed to deliver significant damage to a target ship. Credit: MBDA
The TESEO missile has a long history with the Italian Navy. The MK2/A was updated in 2009 to improve its mid-course data link, abolishing the previous system that relied upon a helicopter for updates. The new missile provides significantly improved range and provides the Navy with a weapon that can engage land targets in support of the Italian Air Force with its StormShadow cruise missiles. The Italian Navy is also planning to equip its F-35Bs with the Joint Strike Missile, which would add an extra dimension to the force’s stand-off strike capabilities.
| Feature | TESEO MK2/A | TESEO MK2/E |
| Operational Range | “200 km class,” or over 180 km at sea-skimming level. | Over 350 km at sea-skimming level. |
| Warhead | 210 kg semi-piercing/high-explosive (HE) type. | New, scalable, semi-piercing/high-explosive warhead. |
| Mid-Flight Correction | Two-way radio link allows for in-flight re-vectoring. Supports “Simultaneous Time on Target” (STOT) salvo attacks. | Advanced, bi-directional satellite data link for full mission control until the final attack phase, including real-time target updates, reassignment, and mission abort. |
| Guidance | Fully autonomous guidance using a GPS-aided Inertial Navigation System (INS) and radar altimeter. Terminal phase uses an active radar homing head with improved Electronic Counter-Countermeasures (ECCM) capability. | New dual-mode homing head with both an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) RF-seeker and an Electro-Optical (EO) sensor. Also uses an autonomous INS/GPS and radar altimeter navigation system. |
| Target Set | Primarily anti-ship, with capability for engaging land targets. | Full dual-role capability for engaging both naval and land targets at long ranges. The EO sensor provides high-precision strike capability against land targets. |
| Key Capability | An enhanced missile system with improved performance in complex naval scenarios and Over the Horizon Targeting (OTHT). | A completely new weapon system with unprecedented long-range strike capability, advanced mission control, and a scalable warhead for high-precision land attack with reduced collateral damage. |
Calibre comment
Additional long-range precision strike weapons should be a welcome addition to NATO’s capabilities. However, it is important that enough missiles are ordered and held by the Allied nations. Large missile attacks consume significant quantities of missiles, and a sustained war would require a healthy magazine depth and production capacity. Procuring enough missiles now helps both of those issues.
By Sam Cranny-Evans, published on September 30, 2025. Credit for the lead image is MBDA.
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