Nepean Naval and Maritime Museum

Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile

Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile. Click on image for a better view. The Sea Sparrow is a surface to air missile that is 3.66 metres long and weighs 280 kilograms. It can travel more than 50 Kilometres at a speed greater than Mach 4. The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) project is an international venture being undertaken to develop and produce an improved version of the RIM-7P NATO Sea Sparrow Missile. The ESSM will have enhanced speed and maneuverability compared to the original Sea Sparrow and will be capable of 'quad-packing' in the 8-cell Mk 41 Vertical Launching System.