Raytheon Wins $358M Evolved Seasparrow Missile Block 2 Contract

Raytheon has won a $358 million contract in support of the fiscal 2021-2023 Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 full rate production requirements.

The ESSM program is an international cooperative effort to design, develop, test, and procure ESSM missiles. The ESSM provides enhanced ship defense. This contract includes options which, if exercised at the maximum quantities, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to nearly $1.3 billion, a U.S. DoD release today said.

This contract combines purchases for the Navy and the governments of Canada, Australia, Greece, Germany, Norway, Turkey, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark under the NATO Seasparrow Consortium.

RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) is a medium-range, semi-active radar-guided missile used in surface-to-air and surface-to-surface roles. As a tail-controlled missile, it 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’s capability bridges the gap between close-in air defense and local area defense systems. Its kinematics result in reduced time to target. It is a Multi-mission weapon system is effective against high-speed or low-velocity threats.

The missile reportedly has a range of about 27 nautical miles (50 Km) and a top speed of Mach 4+.

Unlike Block 1, Block 2’s active radar homing seeker will support terminal engagement without the launch ship’s target illumination radars.