Raytheon wins $151 million contract for US Navy SeaSparrow missiles

Raytheon Company was awarded a $151 million contract by the U.S. Navy's NATO SeaSparrow program office to produce 186 Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles, with an option for $210.3 million to produce an additional 255 missiles. The agreement will also provide NSPO consortium member navies with spare parts and missile containers. Deployed in the U.S. Navy and nine 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. "Raytheon, along with our international team of 18 partner companies, has advanced this world-class system to a point of prominence in ship self-defense missiles," said Ed Roesly, Raytheon's ESSM program director. "This contract cements the ESSM's future, and next year will be exciting as we expand our worldwide customer base". 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. These features enable ESSM to arrive at the intercept point with more endgame speed and agility to counter the threat.