ESSM partners reveal plans for development of new variant
Planning has started to upgrade the ESSM, shown here being launched by aircraft carrier USS George HW Bush . (US Navy)
The US-led NATO SeaSparrow Consortium is planning the design and development of an upgraded RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) variant to follow on from the current ESSM Block 2 ship self-defence missile, according to a solicitation posted on 26 August by the NATO SeaSparrow Project Office (NSPO).
NavalX (the innovation organisation for the US Navy and Marine Corps) and the US Office of Naval Research (ONR) advised industry of a forthcoming briefing to outline requirements for a future ESSM evolution – dubbed the Next Significant Variant (NSV) – and the operational techniques and technical capabilities that may be needed, the solicitation noted.
The NATO SeaSparrow Consortium is a 12-country partnership comprising Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye, and the United States. A multinational industry team led by Raytheon is responsible for development, production, integration, and sustainment activities.
ESSM Block 2 – the current production standard – completed development in 2021 and achieved initial operational capability with the US Navy in December that year. An evolution of the Block 1 round, Block 2 has introduced a new dual-mode active/semi-active X-band radar seeker to provide the option of terminal engagement without illumination support.
The introduction of the new dual-mode seeker increases the diameter of the missile front end from 8 inch to 10 inch (202 mm to 254 mm). Warhead improvements and an updated guidance and control section are also embodied, as is a new Dual Band Transceiver, using both S-band and X-band for in-flight data communications.
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