Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, has delivered its 500th Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 to the U.S. Navy, marking a significant production milestone for one of NATO’s most successful cooperative weapons programs. The company is investing in infrastructure and materials to sustain demand, with plans to nearly double production output by June 2026.
ESSM Block 2: Enhanced Defense Capability
The ESSM Block 2 is a next-generation surface-to-air missile designed to counter advanced air and surface threats. Building on the capabilities of the Block 1, the new variant incorporates a dual-mode active and semi-active radar seeker, greater maneuverability, and improved engagement performance.
Raytheon highlights the system’s versatility in defending against a wide spectrum of modern threats, from aircraft and cruise missiles to high-speed surface targets. Its advanced guidance and agility allow naval forces to expand both ship self-defense and local area defense capabilities.
“ESSM plays a crucial role in helping to ensure both ship self-defense and local area defense for U.S. and allied navies around the globe,” said Barbara Borgonovi, president of Naval Power at Raytheon. “The continued delivery of this capability is a testament to the strong partnerships and shared commitment among our team, our customers, and our allied nations to equip our servicemen and women with the best defense solutions.”
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NATO Consortium Partnership
ESSM is managed by the NATO SEASPARROW Consortium, which includes 12 nations: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye, and the United States. Established more than 50 years ago, the consortium has become NATO’s largest and most successful cooperative weapons development program.
The collaboration ensures shared investment, technology development, and production capacity among participating nations. The Block 2’s success further underscores the value of multinational defense cooperation in advancing naval capabilities.
Scaling Up Production
With naval modernization efforts intensifying worldwide, demand for advanced missile defense systems is expected to rise. Raytheon is expanding production infrastructure to meet that demand, targeting a near-doubling of ESSM Block 2 output by mid-2026.
The delivery of the 500th unit not only marks progress for the U.S. Navy but also strengthens allied fleet defenses across NATO and partner navies. As maritime threats evolve, the ESSM Block 2 remains central to layered naval air defense strategies.
