NATO seeks suppliers for a new, improved variant of the Sea Sparrow missile
The Japanese JS Ariake Murasame-class destroyer launches an ESSM during exercise Pacific Vanguard 24. (Photo: US Navy)
The NATO Sparrow Project Office has outlined its interest in exploring cutting-edge technologies to be integrated into the ESSM Next Significant Variant.
NATO has been preparing the ground to produce the Next Significant Variant (NSV) of the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) and has been seeking out companies to support the effort. The Alliance Sea Sparrow Project Office (NSPO) intends to explore new technologies to be incorporated into the future ESSM version.
The NSV will replace the ESSM Block 2 capabilities which are currently in the arsenal of 13 countries. According to the NSPO, it will be “able to engage current and future threats while maintaining existing quad-pack sizing with a 10” missile diameter”.
The Next Significant Variant will also be designed
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