NNS020911-07 First Full Production Round of Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Delivered
9/14/2002 11:00:00 AM
From Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs
EAST CAMDEN, Ark. (NNS) -- The first production Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) was delivered recently to the U.S. Navy by the Raytheon Company.
"ESSM provides improved ship self-defense capabilities against faster, lower, smaller and more maneuverable anti-ship missile threats as well as increased firepower," said Capt. Ken Graber, the NATO Sea Sparrow project manager.
ESSM is an international cooperative upgrade of the RIM-7 NATO Sea Sparrow Missile. Sea Sparrow is already the most widely deployed ship-defense missile system in the world.
The new missile will provide the primary air defense for the capital ships of the 10 participating NATO navies. Discussions are under way to outfit the ships of at least six other navies as well.
The program is managed by the NATO Sea Sparrow Consortium, a 32-year-old organization described as NATO's largest and most successful cooperative weapons project.
Raytheon's Missile Systems business unit in Tucson, Ariz., is leading the team of 18 companies from 10 countries in developing and producing this next-generation Sea Sparrow ship self-defense system. The other nations participating in ESSM's development include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Turkey.
ESSM has the speed, agility and accuracy to engage threats to the launching vessel at maximum range and in the most challenging conditions.
The final phase of the missile's flight test program is scheduled for early spring 2003, when performance with the AEGIS Fire Control System of the U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers will be verified.
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