The ESSM (Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile) is the successor to RIM-7M NATO Sea Sparrow used aboard previous Dutch Navy frigates. RIM-7M could be carried in a Mk 29 trainable 8-cell launcher or in Mk 48 vertical launchers with one missile per VLS cell. Using the Mk 25 Quad-Pack, four ESSM can fit in a single Mk 41 VLS cell thus dramatically improving magazine capacity over the older weapon.. For example, 32 ESSM can be fitted where previously only 8 Vertical Launch Sea Sparrow could be installed.

ESSM uses an autopilot for mid-course guidance which is updateable via datalink from the launching ship, switching to semi-active homing in the terminal phase of the engagement. A dual mode (semi-active and IR) homing head is a possible later growth option.

ESSM is a tail-controlled missile for 50g manueverability against anti-ship missiles maneuvering at up to 4g. ESSM has 2-4 times the energy of the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missile which, combined with its mid-course auto-pilot guidance, gives ESSM roughly twice the range of the Sea Sparrow missile. The autopilot allows several ESSM to time-share a single illuminator in much the same way as the SM-2.

Performance figures have not been released but a flight speed of Mach 3 and a range of perhaps 25nm+ (similar to that of the SM-1 missile of the Tromp class) are likely.

- Click on button for a link to the Raytheon page for the ESSM: