Raytheon Company has won a USD 212.6 million contract for low rate initial production of the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM). This Lot 1 and Lot 2 award includes 255 all-up-round missiles. In addition, the award includes funding for engineering services. ESSM is designed to protect Navy ships by destroying currently fielded and near-term projected anti-ship missiles, particularly those that fly at low altitudes and manoeuvre during their terminal flight phase. It includes a more powerful rocket motor and “tail control” technology with an improved SeaSparrow guidance section to provide a dramatically improved overall missile performance. ESSM is under development by Raytheon Company’s Missile Systems business unit in Tucson, Ariz., for the US Navy and nine of the other 12 member nations of the NATO SeaSparrow Consortium.
