RIM-162 ESSM
History
RIM-162 Svolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) is an ship launched anti-air missile. It was a further development of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow Missile after the AIM-7 Sparrow missile was no longer further developed. This meant that the next generation of Sea Sparrow could follow a design that no longer would have to fit on aircraft. This new missile would have the same requirements of the launch vessel as the original Sea Sparrow but would otherwise be an all new system.
ESSM ended up having a new, larger rocket motor, different wings and an new seeker that takes advantage of the then-current generation of guidance systems. Because of that, it performs far better then the Sea Sparrow and can be dualpacked in the Mk 29 GMLS and Mk 48 VLS launchers and quadpacked in the Mk 41 VLS
ESSM reached operational status in 2004 for the US Navy, but is used by many other navies as well.
Used on
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