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BAE Systems signs new ESSM production contract

written by australianaviation.com.au | February 2, 2012
An Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile launches from the Vertical Launch System on board HMAS Perth.

BAE Systems Australia has won a $31m contract from Raytheon Missile Systems for the continued production of Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) components.

The contract brings the value of ESSM business awarded to BAE to $370 million and guarantees continued production work in Australia through 2014, BAE said.

Developed under a collaborative agreement between Australia, the US, Canada and other NATO nations, the ESSM system is designed to protect warships against anti-ship missiles. BAE developed the algorithms for the ESSM “enhanced all-the-way-home” guidance mode, which provides a local area defence capability, and supported the integration of the ESSM system into Australia’s ANZAC class frigates.

Preliminary work has begun on the development of a Block II upgrade including a new dual-mode seeker. Raytheon anticipates a requirement for ESSM Block II IOC by 2020.

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