Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM)

The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile is a medium-range, semi-active homing missile
that makes flight corrections via radar and midcourse data uplinks. It provides
reliable ship self-defense capability against agile, high-speed, low-altitude
anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs), low velocity air threats (LVATs), such as
helicopters, and high-speed, maneuverable surface threats.

ESSM Block 1 utilizes a radome-protected antenna for semi-active homing, and
ESSM Block 2 has a dual-mode seeker for both acvtive and semi-active radar
homing purposes.

Block 1 is the result of a 10 nation international cooperative development program
between the U.S., Australia, and NATO partner nations.

The missile can be fired from the following launcher systems:
* MK 29 trainable launcher
* MK 41 VLS (missile is quad-packed, 4 missiles per cell)
* MK 48 VLS
* MK 57 VLS
* MK 56 Dual Pack ESSM Launching System

ESSM also interfaces with a variety of combat systems as follows:
* Aegis Weapon System
* MK 57 NATO SEASPARROW Missile System (NSSMS)
* Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS)
* Total Ship Computing Environment
* ANZAC
* Dutch Configuration
* FLEXFIRE
* APAR combat system

General Characteristics: Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile

Mass:
* 620 lbs. (280 kg)

Length:
* 12.0 ft. (3.66 m)

Diameter:
* 10 in. (254 mm)

Warhead:
* 86 lbs. blast-fragmentation

Detonation Mechanism:
* Proximity Fuze

Engine:
* Mk 143 Mod 0 solid fuel rocket

Range:
* Classified ~27 nmi+ (50km+)

Speed
* Classified but >MACH 4

Guidance:
* flight corrections via search radar midcourse data uplinks
* semi-active homing terminal missile guidance (Block 1)
* active or semi-active homing terminal missile guidance (Block 2)

Launch Platforms (Surface Ships):
* CVNs
* LHAs
* LHDs
* DDGs
* CGs

Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Development Video

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