Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a Raytheon Technologies business, was awarded two U.S. Navy contracts for the Evolved Seasparrow Missile, known as ESSM®. The first contract funded ESSM Block 2 follow-on production for $1.28 billion, and the second is a contract for engineering and technical services supporting ESSM production for $362 million.
The production contract will deliver up to 724 ESSM Block 2 missiles supporting the U.S. and nine of the 11 member nations of the NATO Seasparrow Project Office, the largest and longest running joint international military and industrial consortium dedicated to smart defense in NATO history.
ESSM has been protecting U.S. and allied sailors across the globe for more than 50 year. These contracts reflect the consortium’s continued confidence in this weapon’s ability to provide the best possible self-defense for hundreds of naval platforms worldwide.
Kim Ernzen, vice president of Naval Power at Raytheon Missiles & Defense
The ESSM Block 2 missile is a dual mode active and semi-active, short-range, surface-to-air weapon system, launched from ships for self-defense against incoming missile and aircraft threats. The missile leverages existing technology and features a dual-mode X-band seeker, increased maneuverability, and other enhancements that collectively enable it to defeat future threats to U.S. and allied navies operating in hostile environments.
The ESSM Block 1 and Block 2 guided missiles stem from an international cooperative upgrade of the RIM-7 Seasparrow Missile. These systems provide self-defense and firepower against high-speed, highly maneuverable anti-ship missiles in the naval environment.
Source: Raytheon news relase
