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| FY98 Annual Report | |||
EVOLVED SEA SPARROW MISSILE (ESSM)
| Navy ACAT II Program: | Prime Contractor | |
| Total Number of Systems: | 2,600 (U.S. only) | Raytheon Systems Company |
| Total Program Cost (TY$): | $1,172M | Tucson, AZ |
| Average Unit Cost (TY$): | $0.650M | Service Certified Y2K Compliant |
| Full-rate production: | FY01 | N/A |
SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010
The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) is a short-range missile intended to provide self-protection for surface ships. On Aegis ships, ESSM will be launched from the MK 41 Vertical Launch System, requiring a thrust vector control system on the ESSM rocket. On non-Aegis ships (aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, and other surface combatants), it will be fired from other launch systems. ESSM uses an 8-inch diameter forebody that includes a modified guidance section from the in-service RIM-7P Sea Sparrow. The guidance section, which includes a radome-protected antenna for semiactive homing, attaches to a new warhead section. The forebody is attached to a new 10-inch diameter rocket motor, which provides higher thrust for longer duration than predecessor Sea Sparrow missiles. ESSM will use skid-to-turn steering (tail control), whereas earlier Sea Sparrows were wing-controlled. ESSM will retain capability of the RIM-7P missile, but will also have capability against maneuvering anti-ship missiles. ESSM is being developed as a multinational cooperative effort with several allied nations.
ESSM contributes to the Joint Vision 2010 concept of full-dimensional protection by enhancing ship self-protection against air threats that have "leaked" past outer air defenses. Given that some of the ships that will use ESSM are also platforms from which strike operations are executed, ESSM indirectly contributes to the concept of precision engagement.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Milestone II was conducted in November 1994. The TEMP was approved by OSD in January 1995, through the first at-sea phase of developmental testing, results of, which would have provided the data for an operational assessment supporting the LRIP decision. This provisional approval was assigned because the aerial targets proposed in the TEMP for the DT and OT (in support of the full production decision) were unacceptable in adequately representing anti-ship cruise missile threats. (Since that time, the PEO (TAD) has taken initiatives to obtain targets that are more threat-representative.) During 1998, the program was restructured with an OA, based on missile flights at White Sands Missile Range, NM, to support the initial LRIP decision. A second LRIP decision was added and will be supported by testing with the Self Defense Test Ship. The full production decision will be supported by an OPEVAL conducted with an Aegis ship. The original program proposed OPEVAL with ESSMs fired from rail launchers on a Sea Sparrow-equipped ship, instead of from vertical launchers on an Aegis ship. This was noted in our FY97 Annual Report as cause for considering the overall OT&E program inadequate. The program restructure has since satisfactorily addressed that issue.
TEST & EVALUATION ACTIVITY
Testing activity during FY98 consisted of planning and preparation for the DT to be conducted at the White Sands Missile Range, NM, and for the FY99 DT/OT on the Self Defense Test Ship. Although control test missiles were scheduled for flight in June 1998, the first flight did not occur until September. This will be followed by a second control test missile flight, as well as several missile flights against aerial targets. (These will include ESSM flights from both rail launchers and vertical launchers.) Additional activity during FY98 included modification of the TEMP to reflect the restructured program and T&E resource requirements.
TEST & EVALUATION ASSESSMENT
In addition to laboratory testing at the missile section level, the first ESSM flight was conducted at White Sands Missile Range, NM, on September 17, 1998. This was a Control Test Vehicle, with an inactive guidance section, flown to gather information to validate the ESSM digital model. The missile flew a pre-programmed flight profile. Based on radar track data, the flight trajectory appeared to compare satisfactorily with preflight predictions, with all commanded maneuvering performed. The missile was launched from a MK 29 rail launcher. Data analysis is continuing.
With restructuring of the program to conduct an operational evaluation with an Aegis destroyer and fully integrated combat system, and with the planned suite of targets for the scenarios, the ESSM T&E program is considered satisfactory.
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