Raytheon wins $56M to Support Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Program

Raytheon has won two contracts of a combined worth of $56 million, to support the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) program.

The first contract for $24 million contract for long lead materials in support of ESSM Block 1 production and spares requirements.

While the latter contract worth $32 million is for long lead material in support of ESSM Block 2 low-rate initial production requirements, United States Department of Defense (US DoD) said in a statement Friday.

The ESSM program is an international cooperative effort to design, develop, test, and procure ESSM missiles. The ESSM provides enhanced ship defense. Contractual work for the two contracts is expected to be completed by December 2021 and December 2022 respectively, the US DoD further stated.

ESSM is a medium-range, semi-active homing missile that makes flight corrections via radar and midcourse data uplinks. The missile provides reliable ship self-defense capability against agile, high-speed, low-altitude anti-ship cruise missiles, low velocity air threats like helicopters, and high-speed, maneuverable surface threats.