FIRST AUSTRALIAN FIRING OF EVOLVED SEASPARROW MISSILE

The Royal Australian Navy launched its first Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) from the ANZAC Class frigate HMAS WARRAMUNGA on 21 January 2003.

The missile was launched against a Kalkara pilotless drone, and was guided to within a lethal range of the target. The test was conducted off the coast of Perth, Western Australia.

"The ESSM Consortium has delivered the most advanced ship defence system available in the world today. BAE SYSTEMS is delighted to be part of such a successful program,� said George Milosz, Domain Manager - Missiles & Decoys, BAE SYSTEMS.

BAE SYSTEMS Australia is the lead Australian contractor in the missile program and is the design agent for the ESSM's aerodynamic and thrust vectoring performance. This includes the thrust vector controller, aerodynamic surfaces, body strakes and control fins, and guidance and control algorithms for the initial phases of flight.

In production, BAE SYSTEMS Australia is also responsible for manufacturing the computer and other components of ESSM's guidance section.

This latest missile launch represents a milestone in the evolution of the ESSM program and follows on from the first firing of the ESSM from a US Navy surface combatant, the USS Shoup in July 2002.

HMAS WARRAMUNGA is the first ANZAC ship to be fitted with the ESSM system, which will eventually be fitted to all of the RAN's ANZAC and ADELAIDE class frigates - 14 ships in total.

Editing notes:> The very first line of the Release forms the title.> It is a good idea to format your ReleaseAll the later ships in the ANZAC class will be delivered in the ESSM configuration, and the first two ships of the class - which are currently fitted with the RIM?7P NATO SeaSparrow system - will be upgraded to ESSM. The six ADELAIDE class frigates will be equipped with ESSM under a separate upgrade program.

ESSM is the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's (NATO) largest and most successful co-operative weapons project and is destined to become NATO's next-generation ship self-defence system. Globally, the consortium involves 18 companies across the ten participating nations* and is headed by prime contractor, Raytheon Systems Company of Tucson Arizona.

Under the A$4 billion project, more than 4,000 missiles will be delivered to the ten nations of the ESSM consortium. Production of ESSM is underway, and delivery of operational missiles to Consortium nations has commenced.

The ESSM provides improved ship self-defence capabilities against faster, lower, smaller and more manoeuvrable anti-ship missile threats as well as increased firepower. The missile has the speed, agility and accuracy to engage threats to the launching vessel at maximum range and in the most challenging conditions.

* The ten participating countries are Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Turkey and the United States of America.