The ship-launched surface-to-air missile provides ship self-defense and local-area defense against advanced airborne and surface threats. It forms a protective layer for vessels, crews and maritime operations in contested environments.
“Delivery of the 1,000th ESSM Block 2 missile is a significant achievement for the NATO SeaSparrow Consortium, PMX-312, our industry partners, and, most importantly, the Sailors who rely on these weapons as a critical layer of defense,” said Capt. John Bowman, the U.S. Navy’s PMX-312 program manager. “This milestone demonstrates the enduring value of international cooperation and a resilient industrial base in delivering proven maritime-defense capability at the scale our nations require.”
Raytheon, an RTX business, is the prime contractor for ESSM Block 2 production. It works with the Navy, consortium countries and a multinational industrial base to manufacture and deliver the missiles.
Established in 1968, the NATO SeaSparrow Project is one of NATO’s longest-running cooperative weapons programs. Its 12 members jointly develop, produce and sustain interoperable ship self-defense capabilities.
The consortium comprises Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye and the United States. The program is managed by PMX-312 within PAE Munitions.
