Raytheon confirmed on 1 October 2025 that it has delivered the 500th Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 to the U.S. Navy. The milestone highlights increased ship defense production as Washington and NATO respond to growing missile and unmanned aerial threats.
ESSM Block 2, the NATO SeaSparrow consortium’s 10-inch medium-range shipborne interceptor, can be quad-packed in a single Mk 41 Vertical Launch System cell, dramatically increasing magazine depth. The missile achieves speeds above Mach 4 and uses dual-mode active/semi-active radar guidance to counter cruise missiles, drones, and complex multi-axis raids.
The Block 2 preserves the robust 10-inch airframe and Mk 134 solid rocket motor while introducing a modern guidance section with an X-band active radar seeker integrated with the legacy semi-active channel. This dual-mode system enables midcourse updates and autonomous terminal homing, reducing dependence on continuous illuminators and freeing fire control directors to manage multiple targets. The missile carries a 39-kilogram blast-fragmentation warhead with an engagement envelope exceeding 50 kilometers and high endgame agility.
ESSM Block 2 can be quad-packed in Mk 41 cells, loaded in legacy Mk 29 launchers, or integrated with Mk 56 and other modular launchers on various surface combatants. Integration with Aegis and allied combat systems allows cooperative engagement and extends the defended footprint across a task group. In layered defense, ESSM Block 2 absorbs saturation attacks while preserving SM-2 and SM-6 for long-range engagements.
The accelerated production addresses persistent missile and drone threats in maritime chokepoints and Western Pacific operations. Delivering the 500th missile and ramping production toward 2026 signals that the U.S. Navy’s close-in and local-area air defense capabilities are keeping pace with the evolving threat environment.
