RIM-162 ESSM
The RIM -162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile ( ESSM ) is a ship-based air defense missile medium range. It is primarily produced by the U.S. company Raytheon, with eleven other states were involved in the development ( see below).
- 7.1 External links
- 7.2 Notes and references
Development
The ESSM is designed to replace the system RIM -7 Sea Sparrow, which can effectively combat modern anti-ship missiles is limited. Among the emerging threats included primarily Soviet developments in this area, such as the SS-N -22 Sunburn or the SS-N -26 Strobile flying very low and supersonic fast, can carry strong maneuvers and have limited EloGM capacity. However, the conversion should be carried out as possible without any modifications to existing hardware, so they decided to take over parts of the steering electronics, the drive and the warhead of the RIM -7P and subsequently to modernize comprehensive. However, many of the components have been completely redesigned, for example, the airframe or the proximity fuze. Despite these changes, the ESSM can be quickly integrated into an existing RIM - 7 system as it is compatible with the starting and fire control systems. Only a software update and minor modifications to the missiles starter are required for integration.
The concept phase for the ESSM began in 1988 and was dominated by Hughes and Raytheon. As Hughes 1995 won the tender of the U.S. Navy, the company entered into a joint venture with Raytheon, where it has already acquired two years later by the latter. The first tests were carried out in 1997. It started with simple flight tests and finished the testing phase with several successful launches of highly maneuverable, low-flying and supersonic test objectives. The first production model was delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2002 and the following year the system was put into service. Series production began in January 2004 and to date ( August 2012) over 2000 missiles were delivered. In the spring of 2009 a battle worth upgraded version has been successfully tested, which features a new steering system and is intended to provide a higher firing probability.
Technology
Although the ESSM is based on the RIM -7P Sea Sparrow, is an almost entirely new missile. Only the warhead was virtually unchanged, but without the original proximity fuze. For the flight control four control surfaces at the rear and the thrust vector control are responsible, so that the rocket has a very high degree of maneuverability and, combined with a strengthened airframe, can perform maneuvers with up to 50 g. Furthermore, the position control systems already provide reliable data immediately after the start, creating a very low minimum range can be achieved. To direct a semi- active radar system is mainly used. Since the rocket but additionally has an inertial navigation system and a data link, radar illumination of the target only in the final seconds of the flight is necessary. This method makes it possible in case of attack, to launch a large number of missiles and bring them to intercept, even if not enough Feuerleitkanäle are available to their steering. The ESSM can be controlled by a variety of Feuerleitradaren ( see below). This must be either in the S-band (2-4 GHz) or X-band (7-12 GHz), where the seeker both frequency bands can use to guidance at the same time. Thereby, the system is combined with the HOJ mode, a very high resistance to interference. In addition, the system can now also very slow targets (eg helicopters) and surface targets detecting and combating reliable.
Platforms
The ESSM is designed to be used on as many platforms. Such a platform must firstly have a suitable fire control radar, on the other hand via a suitable missile starter. In the following, the respective systems are listed below:
Fire control radars
- AN/SPY-1
- APAR
- AN/SPG-60
- Mk -95 ( fire control radar for RIM -7)
- CEAROS
- SMART -L ( only target acquisition )
Missiles Starter
- Mk 29 ( starter for RIM -7, a rocket per tube)
- Mk 48 VLS ( one missile per tube)
- Mk 56 VLS ( two missiles per tube)
- Mk 41 VLS ( used eg on Aegis ships, four missiles per tube)
- Mk 57 VLS ( used on ships of the Zumwalt - class, four missiles per tube)
Participating States
As part of NATO SEASPARROW Project Office ( NSPO ), the following States were also involved in the development:
- Germany Germany
- Denmark Denmark
- Netherlands The Netherlands
- Norway Norway
- Belgium
- Spain
Many of these nations use the ESSM meanwhile as the primary air defense missile for its new warships, as it significantly more compact and lighter than the Standard Missile 2 are more users outside the consortium:
- New Zealand New Zealand
- South Africa South Africa
- United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates
- Japan Japan
Specifications
Comparable systems
- SA- N-6 Grumble
- SA -N -7 Gadfly
- SA -N 12 Grizzly
- Aster 15