The US Naval Sea Systems Command has signed a USD 30.8 million contract with Arizona-based Raytheon Missile Systems.
Under the deal, the contractor will provide MK 698 test sets with Evolved Seasparrow Missile and Standard Missile test capability, upgrade kits, installation kits, repair tool kits, associated spares and technical support.
The contract includes foreign military sales to Australia and the Netherlands (100 percent).
Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) is deployed on Arleigh Burke-class destroyers of the U.S. Navy, as well on Ticonderoga class cruisers, aircraft carriers, large deck amphibious ships and various surface combatants of Australia, Netherlands, Greece, Canada, Denmark, Turkey, Spain, and Norway.
ESSM is an international cooperative upgrade of the RIM-7 Seasparrow Missile which is able to provide self-defense battlespace and firepower against high-speed, highly maneuverable anti-ship missiles in the naval environment.
Raytheon Missile Systems will perform the work in Tucson, Arizona (86 percent), Australia (10 percent), and the Netherlands (4 percent), and it is expected to be completed by December 2016.
[mappress] Press Release, May 12, 2014; Image: Raytheon