Raytheon has handed over the 500th Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 to the U.S. Navy, marking a major milestone in the program.
The Block 2 ESSM is a medium-range interceptor designed to defend naval vessels from aerial and surface threats. Compared to the earlier Block 1, it incorporates a dual-mode radar seeker, improved maneuverability, and enhanced guidance flexibility for engaging more complex targets. Despite the upgrades, it maintains the same 10-inch (25.4 cm) diameter, allowing four missiles to be packed into a single launcher cell without significant modifications.
The program is managed by the NATO SEASPARROW Consortium—the alliance’s longest-running cooperative weapons initiative, established after the 1967 sinking of an Israeli destroyer by a Soviet missile. The consortium brings together 12 member nations, including the United States, Australia, Canada, Turkey, and eight European NATO partners, who share costs and responsibilities for development and sustainment.
The original ESSM entered service in 2002, while the Block 2 variant was fielded in 2020. It is deployable from both Mk 41 vertical launch systems and Mk 29 trainable launchers, enabling wide compatibility across surface combatants. Beyond U.S. platforms, the missile is also operational with allied navies, including the Royal Netherlands Navy’s De Zeven Provinciën-class frigates.
