Raytheon Delivers 500th Evolved SeaSparrow Missile Block 2 to US Navy

Raytheon, part of American defense group RTX, has reached a significant milestone by delivering its 500th Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 to the United States Navy. This achievement highlights the company’s continued commitment to strengthening naval defense and enhancing maritime security for the U.S. and allied forces. Alongside this delivery, Raytheon is investing in infrastructure and materials to support a production rate that is expected to nearly double by June 2026, ensuring steady availability of these advanced missiles.

The ESSM Block 2 is an advanced surface-to-air missile designed to counter a wide range of air and sea-surface threats. Compared to the earlier Block 1 variant, it features significant improvements in guidance, maneuverability, and overall performance. The missile incorporates a dual-mode radar seeker, combining active and semi-active guidance. This allows the missile to engage targets more effectively without depending solely on the ship’s target illumination, enhancing operational flexibility in high-threat environments. The improved maneuverability enables the missile to counter high-speed, evasive targets, making it a potent defensive weapon.

The missile carries a 39-kilogram blast-fragmentation warhead, capable of neutralizing both aerial and surface threats. It can reach speeds exceeding Mach 4 and has a range of over 50 kilometers, providing rapid and reliable defense against fast-moving targets. These specifications make ESSM Block 2 a critical component of naval defense systems, particularly in protecting ships and supporting local area defense operations.

Raytheon emphasizes that ESSM plays a crucial role in safeguarding both U.S. and allied naval forces. The continued deliveries reflect strong partnerships among the company, its customers, and allied nations, ensuring that servicemen and women are equipped with highly capable defense solutions.

The ESSM program is managed by the NATO SEASPARROW Consortium, which includes 12 member nations: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye, and the United States. This consortium is NATO’s largest cooperative weapons project and represents over five decades of international military-industrial collaboration. The ESSM Block 2 has been integrated into a wide variety of naval vessels, from large aircraft carriers and amphibious ships to smaller surface combatants, enhancing the versatility and defensive reach of allied fleets.

With production ramping up and continuous technological enhancements, the ESSM Block 2 ensures that naval forces worldwide are equipped to face evolving threats. This milestone delivery underscores Raytheon’s ongoing commitment to providing advanced, reliable, and effective solutions for maritime defense.