Raytheon Evolved SeaSparrow (ESSM) program delivers 2,000th missile
Raytheon
Company delivered the 2,000th Evolved SeaSparrow Missile to the NATO
SeaSparrow Consortium. "ESSM is a model for global operations,
and the delivery of our 2,000th missile demonstrates the significant
commitment of our international team to continue providing this critical
capability to the warfighter," said Ed Roesly, Raytheon Missile
Systems' ESSM program director. "We have delivered ESSMs for
a decade and expect continued production past 2017."
RIM-162 ESSM launch from USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), July 2010
(Picture: US Navy)
Deployed by the U.S. Navy and 11 international fleets,
ESSM defends the battlespace by delivering ship self-defense firepower
against high-G maneuvering anti-ship cruise missiles, as well as surface
and low-velocity air threats. As a tail-controlled missile, ESSM uses
recent enhancements to its guidance system to take advantage of improved
seeker sensitivity, increased propulsion and greater weapon accuracy.
Combined, these features result in ESSM arriving at the intercept point
with more speed and agility to counter the threat.
About ESSM
With more than 200 at-sea firings, ESSM is a medium-range, all-weather,
semi-active radar-guided missile used in surface-to-air and surface-to-surface
roles by the U.S. It is currently deployed by 11 international customers.
ESSM represents more than four decades of technology and design improvements
by a 43-year international cooperative partnership composed of 12 nations,
10 of which employ ESSM. The program continues to conduct studies to
identify improvement opportunities for ESSM to pace the threat with
advanced capabilities.
As a tail-controlled missile, ESSM uses enhancements to its guidance
system to take advantage of improved seeker sensitivity, increased propulsion
and greater weapon accuracy. These features enable ESSM to arrive at
the intercept point with more endgame speed and agility to counter the
threat.
ESSM Contribution to Warfighters
* Capability bridges the gap between close-in air defense and local
area defense systems.
* Kinematics result in reduced time to target.
* Multi-mission weapon system is effective against high-speed or low-velocity
threats.
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