NATO Sea Sparrow
Abstract
This project encompasses eight (8) primary efforts to enhance ship self-defense: 1. ESSM System Integration and Test: Evolved SEASPARROW Missile (ESSM) Blk 1 and Block 2 is a cooperative effort among the 12 NATO SEASPARROW Project Consortium Nations including the U.S. to provide crucial battlespace defense and fire power against the fast, low altitude, highly maneuverable Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) threat. Modifications were made to increase capacity by employing a four ESSM QuadPack in a single MK 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) cell and the NATO SEASPARROW Surface Missile System (NSSMS) fielded onboard CVN 68 and CVN 78 Class Aircraft Carriers, LHD 1 and LHA 7 Class Multipurpose Amphibious Assault Ships, DDG 51 Class Guided Missile Destroyers, and CG 47 Class Guided Missile Cruisers. Major testing campaigns this year includes ESSM Blk 2 IOT&E Phase 2, which will complete the IOT&E phase, leading to the Full Rate Production Decision. Enterprise testing with SSDS BL 12 on the Self Defense Test Ship and lead ships CVN 79 and LHA 8. Both ESSM Block 1 and ESSM Block 2 will be used to support testing. 1.1 Blk 2 Follow-on Test & Evaluation (FOT&E): The ESSM Blk2 FOT&E line has been merged into the above ESSM System Integration and Test line for FY 2025. The ESSM Blk 2 Milestone Decision Authority mandated that ESSM Blk 2 conduct FOT&E on Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS) platform and fully support DDG Flight III operational testing. There will be planning efforts to support US Combat Systems integration testing including but not limited to: AEGIS Baseline 9 and 10 integration, SSDS Baseline 12 integration, and FFG platform integration testing as required. This includes support with appropriate ESSM Blk 2 Missile Simulator Unit (MSU) with operator support. 2. NATO SEASPARROW Technical Direction Agent (TDA): The MK 57 NATO SEASPARROW Surface Missile Systems (NSSMS) provides a rapid response, integrated, self-defense missile capability. Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) provides systems engineering and technical support for the MK 9 Tracker-Illuminator System (TIS), and MK 29 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS). JHU/APL is tasked with providing studies, analysis, and evaluations of hardware and software improvements. This task encompasses requirements development and assessment, artifact and document reviews, technical meeting participation, test requirement development, participation in test and system integration events, and post-test analysis. Through this level of support, JHU/APL will assist in the development of a Top-Level Requirements (TLR) document that will inform the acquisition of future capability. 3. ESSM Technology Roadmap & Studies: The ESSM Blk 2 Missile completed development in 2021, achieved Initial Operational Capability in December 2021 and transitioned to in-service. In order to achieve performance not realized during the execution of Engineering and Manufacturing Development (E&MD), pace the threat, and remain a viable weapon system, the ESSM and its supporting combat system components require continual improvements. This effort will perform studies to identify technology candidates, explore new manufacturing techniques, and determine applicability to the NATO SEASPARROW Project Office (NSPO) managed Combat System Elements for future hardware or software improvements to either the Consortium's combat systems or the missile, or both. RDT&E funding represented will develop and maintain an ESSM System roadmap and support specific studies to determine candidate combat system and/or missile performance and manufacturing efficiency improvements. Computer simulation updates will be needed to support the performance studies for future improvements. 4. Other Development (Blk 2 Obsolescence and Redesign, Combat System Test Bed (CSTB) and Digital Datalink): CSTB is the end-to-end integration of CS element models using Higher Level Architecture (HLA) to help assess a ship's ability to defend itself. CSTB is maximizing the use of tactical code-based models in conjunction with physics-based environmental models to represent at sea performance of ships and their combat systems. Supports a system of systems modeling for multiple use cases including System Development, System Integration, Developmental Test (DT) or Operational Test (OT) for a variety of ships and weapon systems. This effort is to integrate ESSM Blk 2 Tactical Simulation (ETS) model into the CSTB and Enterprise Testbed. This effort also includes improvements required to be made in ETS based on the studies exploring missile launcher and MK 9 Tracker-Illuminator System (TIS) redesign in order to respond to obsolescence issues affecting ESSM systems on all CVN, LHA, and LHD class ships. 5. Evolved SEASPARROW Missile (ESSM) Blk 2 Software Upgrades: The ESSM Blk 2 Missile completed development in 2021, achieved IOC in December 2021 and transitioned to in-service. In order to pace the threat, the missile requires software improvements to provide performance updates and fixes. The software updates will be identified as a result of Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) phase 2 and during Runs for the Record (RfR) that will be completed in support of IOC, from performance improvements studies, identified software trouble reports, and during Final Operational Test and Evaluation (FOT&E) flight test results and as a result of new hardware and combat system changes. These changes will form the first opportunity to improve the baseline ESSM Block 2 missile and are intended to represent an approximately annual software update employing agile software management principles, which will allow for correction of deficiencies identified through Initial Operational Test and Evaluation and support the completion of FOT&E objectives. 6. C-Band Telemetry Upgrade: Director Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) directed operational testing in Aegis Capability Baseline (ACB)-20 requires multiple missiles in flight simultaneously to assess stream raids by threat systems. Current SM-6 and ESSM Block 2 Telemeters operate in the S-band where Radio Frequency (RF) bandwidths are limited for Telemetry (TM) data collection on the range. The current spectrum allocation and range infrastructure does not support TM collection for the number of missiles simultaneously in flight required to support ACB 20 TEMP (Test and Evaluation Master Plan) on range. The new requirement is due to the large number of missiles to support planned testing. The weapons and range are required to move telemetry into the C-Band where bandwidth exists to support required TM collections. 7. NATO SEASPARROW Tracker-Illuminator System (TIS) Development: The MK 57 NATO SEASPARROW Surface Missile System (NSSMS) supports the SPARROW missile family with Semi-Active illumination with a Continuous Wave Tracking Illuminator (CWTI) obsolescence update to the MK 9 Tracker-Illuminator System (TIS). The MK9 also provides fire control tracking data to the SSDS combat system, including against high elevation angle threats. Additional MK9 upgrade Top Level Requirements are being developed to support self-defense mission requirements against near term advanced threats. The OT-234/S CWTI eliminates obsolescence issues and increases the Radio Frequency (RF) power output to provide improved tracking, with uplink, performance, and higher Evolved SEASPARROW Missile (ESSM) probability of guidance (PG) on low RADAR Cross Section (RCS) threats. Additionally, a replacement of 1960's United States Air Force (USAF) Radar Test Set (RTS) adapted for the United States Navy (USN) will be required to fulfill maintenance requirements and enhance additional frequency selections and ensure post-launch RF missile support for noise and uplink requirements. 7.1 MK 9 Continuous Wave Tracking Illuminator (CWTI) (Transmitter) Replacement: The MK 9 CWTI line has been added to the above NATO SEASPARROW Tracker-Illuminator System (TIS) Development line for FY 2025. 7.2 Next Generation Tracker-Illuminator System (TIS): The Next Generation TIS line has been added to the above NATO SEASPARROW Tracker-Illuminator System (TIS) Development line for FY 2025. 8. Next Generation Launching System (NGLS or ADL): This effort is to be renamed "Adaptable Deck Launcher" (ADL). The purpose of the NGLS (ADL) effort is to develop, qualify, test, and integrate an upgrade/replacement to the 50+ year old legacy MK 29 Guided Missile Launching System (GMLS) for large deck, capital warships including CVNs, LHAs, and LHDs. NGLS (ADL) will double ESSM missile capacity over the current MK 29 GMLS while maintaining current shipboard locations. The new launcher will allow significantly more flexibility for ESSM Block 1 and 2 in any loadout configuration with available inventory. This upgrade/replacement will improve environmental protection for Guided Missile Assemblies (GMA) (reducing corrosion), Grade A Near Miss Shock (NMS) compliance, reduces manning requirements for loading/unloading operations, mitigates long term supportability issues, addresses obsolescence, reduces the life cycle costs for operating and maintaining the MK 132 Launcher, and reduces the cost and time for ESSM in-service refurbishment, or re-certification. This upgrade/replacement contains design margin to allow for growth, where the MK 132 Guided Missile Launcher is maximized today limiting ESSM Block 2 deployment. Initial activities start in Q4 FY 2023 and include shipboard top side design surveys and analyses, NSSMS combat system integration studies, initial hardware prototyping and assembly.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2025
- Source ID
- 0173_0604756N_5_1319_PB_2025
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- Root: Ship Self Def (Engage: Hard Kill)
- Child Accomplishment: ESSM System Integration and Test
- Child Accomplishment: BLK 2 Follow-on Test & Evaluation (FOT&E)
- Child Accomplishment: NATO Sea Sparrow Combat System Integraton Technical Direction Agent (TDA)
- Child Accomplishment: ESSM Blk 2 Technology Roadmap and Studies
- Child Accomplishment: Other Development
- Child Accomplishment: ESSM Blk 2 Software Upgrades
- Child Accomplishment: NATO SEASPARROW Tracker-Illuminator System (TIS) Development
- Child Accomplishment: C-Band Telemetry Upgrades
- Child Accomplishment: MK 9 CWTI (Transmitter) Replacement
- Child Accomplishment: Next Generation Tracker- Illuminator System (TIS)
- Child Accomplishment: Next Generation Launching System
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