Raytheon Missile Systems has been awarded a contract by the US Naval Sea Systems Command for the delivery of MK698 guided missile test sets.
As part of the $30.8m deal, Raytheon will also deliver the test sets with evolved sea sparrow missile (ESSM) and standard missile test capability, in addition to upgrade kits, installation kits, repair tool kits, related spares and technical support.
The contract, which is a modification to a previously awarded deal, includes foreign military sales (FMS) to Australia and the Netherlands.
Expected to be completed by December 2016, about 86% of the work will be executed in Tucson, Arizona, with 10% in Australia and 4% in the Netherlands.
An advanced version of the RIM-7 sea sparrow missile, the ESSM offers self-defence battlespace and firepower against high-speed, highly manoeuvrable anti-ship missiles, as well as threats from surface and low-velocity air areas in the naval environment.
Capable of being launched without any prior warm-up, the tail-controlled ESSM uses a guidance system and offers personnel with improved performance against smaller, sea-skimming targets.
The US Navy has deployed the ESSM on the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, as well as the Ticonderoga-class cruisers, aircraft carriers, large-deck amphibious ships and several surface vessels used by the navies of Australia, the Netherlands, Greece, Canada, Denmark, Turkey, Spain and Norway.
Last year, Raytheon demonstrated the capabilities of its ESSM in a test fire from the US Navy’s self-defence test ship.
Image: A Nato sea sparrow missile fired by the CVN 77 aircraft carrier. Photo: courtesy of the US Navy, by mass communication specialist 3rd class Nicholas Hall/Released.
