Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) is an international cooperative upgrade of the RIM-7 Seasparrow Missile. ESSM provides self-defense battle space and firepower against high-speed, highly maneuverable anti-ship missiles in the naval environment. It brings a transformational anti-ship missile defense capabilities to the fleets of the United States, NATO and other allies. The missile was developed by the U.S. Navy and nine of the other 11-member nations of the NATO SEASPARROW Consortium.
Used in a ground-based application, it will build on the proven capabilities of the ship-based application by providing the same air defense capability against the full threat spectrum, including aircraft, high and low velocity air threats, and high divers, expanding the missile’s original mission from sea-based to ground-based air defense arena. Sounds like the Chinese Navy will have something more than some pieces of land in the South China Sea to worry about it.
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