Missile Tests Maximize Warfighter Capabilities

(USS Nimitz, At Sea, June 5, 2009) -- Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Port Hueneme successfully conducted Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) engineering tests aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68) near San Nicholas Island in the Pacific Ocean May 27.

Personnel from NSWC Port Hueneme served as test director and test conductor for the event.

The tests included two single missile scenarios and featured the first fleet firings of the new production configuration of ESSM from the new Open Architecture variant of the Ship Self Defense System (SSDS) on Nimitz.

"ESSM is a kinematic upgrade to the RIM 7P Sea Sparrow Missile and provides self-defense fire power against faster, lower, smaller, more maneuverable anti-ship cruise missiles," said Mike Ryan, NSWC Port Hueneme missile test director. "The test team did a fantastic job of demonstrating the integration of the new ESSM configuration missile and the MK 57 and SSDS on board USS Nimitz."

The tests demonstrated that the SSDS and the newly-configured ESSM are properly integrated to engage anti-ship missile threat-representative targets. The tests also validated the new guidance improvement configuration of ESSM, which will increase guidance performance against air and surface threats and thus increase the probability of target kill and depth of defense.

Testing missile capabilities from the Self Defense Test Ship allows NSWC Port Hueneme, a field activity of the Naval Sea Systems Command, to produce future technologies that maximize warfighter capabilities, which supports the nation's maritime strategy.

Source : US Navy