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Raytheon Missile Systems has received a contract to commence low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the Evolved SeaSparrow (ESSM) Block 2 ship self-defence missile.
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Awarded by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) on 26 August, the US$190.5 million contract follows on from a US$97.8 million long-lead materials contract placed in March of this year. The new award will procure the remaining materials in support of ESSM Block 2 FY 2019 LRIP Lot 1, Lot 2, and Lot 3 all-up rounds and spares requirements.
The contract amendment will include in-service support and technical engineering support services, with additional funding for research, development, test and evaluation to be conducted by the US Navy.
Developed by the US Navy and nine of the other 11 member nations of the NATO SEASPARROW Consortium, the ESSM is bringing transformational anti-ship missile defence capabilities to the US, NATO and other allies.
BAE Systems Australia is a key industrial partner supporting the international development of the ESSM system, providing thrust vectoring guidance control for 20 per cent of the ESSM production.
The specific technology is called a thrust vector controller and some 3,000 have been produced at BAE Systems’ advanced manufacturing facility at Edinburgh Parks, South Australia, since production started in the late 1990s.
The ESSM is produced under a collaborative program between Australia, the US, Canada and other NATO nations and is operational on almost 200 naval platforms worldwide.
ESSM is a supersonic surface to air missile that protects warships against anti-ship missiles. In RAN service, ESSM is fitted to Adelaide Class frigates, Anzac Class frigates and the Hobart Class guided missile destroyers, and will also be fitted to the Hunter Class frigates.
The beginning of LRIP on the Block 2 ESSM is expected to support a 2020 initial operational capability (IOC) with the US Navy – with international partners, including Australia,expected to begin IOC by the mid-2020s.
