Overview
The Sea Sparrow Missile is a surface-to-air, radar guided missile which was originally developed by Raytheon and General Dynamics. The RIM 7 was first deployed in 1976 and is deployed by both the United States Navy and Marine Corps.[i] In 2004, the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile was deployed after a cooperative effort from 10 NATO countries.[ii] The ESSM featured improved range from the RIM 7 as well as now having a surface-to-surface capability.[iii] The Sea Sparrow provides reliable ship self-defense capabilities against anti-ship cruise missiles, low-velocity air threats, and high-speed surface threats however has limited to no capability against ballistic missiles.[iv] Currently there are more than 2000 ESSMs in service by 13 different countries. The ESSM is expected to stay in service beyond 2030.[v]
Sea Sparrow Missile (RIM 7)
| Primary Function | Surface-to-Air |
| Contractor | Raytheon and General Dynamics |
| Date Deployed | 1976 |
| Unit Cost | $165,400 |
| Weight | Approximately 225 kgs |
| Speed | Classified |
| Range | Classified |
| Guidance System | Semi-active on continuous wave or pulsed Doppler radar energy |
| Platforms | Navy Surface Platforms: CVN, LHA, LHD classes |
| Warhead | Annular blast fragmentation warhead, 40.5 kg |
| Defends against | High-Speed, Low-Altitude Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles; Helicopters; UAS; other low-velocity air-threats |
Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM)
| Primary Function | Surface-to-Air, Surface-to-surface |
| Contractor | Raytheon |
| Date Deployed | 2004 |
| ESSM Users | Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, UAE |
| Unit Cost | $787k – $972k |
| Weight | Approximately 282 kg |
| Speed | Classified |
| Range | Classified |
| Guidance System | Semi-active on continuous wave or interrupted continuous wave illumination |
| Platforms | Navy Surface Platforms: CVN, LHA, LHD, DDG 51, CG47, DDG 1000 classes |
| Warhead | Annular blast fragmentation warhead, 40.5 kg |
| Defends Against | High-Speed, Low-Altitude Anti-Ship Cruise Missiles; Helicopters; UAS; other low-velocity air-threats; High-Speed Maneuverable Surface Threats; |
Sources:
[i] http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2200&tid=900&ct=2
[ii] http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2200&tid=950&ct=2
[iii] http://www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/essm/
[iv] http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2200&tid=950&ct=2
