RIM-162 ESSM
| RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Medium-range surface-to-air missile |
| Place of origin |  United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | February 2004 aboard USS Chafee[citation needed] |
| Used by | Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Turkey and the US[1] |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Raytheon |
| Unit cost | $800,000[2] |
| Produced | September 1998- 1000th missile delivered 25 August 2009[3] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 620 lb (280 kg) |
| Length | 12 ft (3.66 m) |
| Diameter | 10 in (254 mm) |
| Warhead | 86 lb (39 kg) blast-fragmentation |
Detonation mechanism | Proximity fuze |
| Engine | Mk 143 Mod 0 solid fuel rocket |
Operational range | 27+ nm (50+ km) |
| Maximum speed | Mach 4+ |
Guidance system | Midcourse datalink Terminal semi-active radar homing |
Launch platform | Mk 41 VLS (RIM-162A/B) Mk 48 VLS (RIM-162C) Mk 29 box launcher (RIM-162D)[4] |
The RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) is a development of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile used to protect ships from attacking missiles, aircraft and surface threats.[5] ESSM is designed to counter supersonic maneuvering anti-ship missiles. Compared to the Sea Sparrow, ESSM has a larger, more powerful rocket motor for increased range and agility, as well as upgraded aerodynamics using strakes and skid-to-turn. In addition, ESSM takes advantage of the latest missile guidance technology, with different versions for Aegis/SPY-1, Sewaco/APAR, and traditional target illumination all-the-way. ESSM also has the ability to be "quad-packed" in the Mk 41 VLS system, allowing up to four Sea Sparrows to be carried in a single cell.
ESSM will be used by many allied countries. The first country to achieve operational status for ESSM after the United States was Australia. Other countries which have also integrated the ESSM are Canada, Germany, Turkey, Greece, Japan, Denmark, The Netherlands,and Norway. Countries in the process of integrating ESSM are New Zealand, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates.
Operational history
US operational evaluation was conducted in July 2002 aboard USS Shoup (DDG-86). Initial operational capability did not occur until later.[6]
The first "kill" by the RIM-162D from a carrier's Mk 29 launcher was achieved during a training exercise by the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) on 7 October 2008.[7]
See also
References
- ^ Bird in the hand: NATO gives fresh momentum to ESSM
- ^ Raytheon Signs $151 Million Evolved SeaSparrow Missile Contract
- ^ 1000th Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Delivered
- ^ Raytheon. ESSM MK-29 upgrade fact sheet. (PDF)
- ^ Raytheon ESSM product data sheet
- ^ "ESSM completes OPEVAL with 'flying colors'", Seapower, May 2003.
- ^ "Stennis First with New ESSM". US Navy. 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-10-10..
External links
- Video: Royal Norwegian Navy Frigate KNM Fridtjof Nansen testfires RIM-162 ESSM
- Designation Systems.net: Raytheon RIM-162 ESSM
- Global Security.org: RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM)
- NATO SEASPARROW Project Office
- NAMMO Raufoss - Nordic Ammunition Company
