US Navy issues sources sought notice for Next Significant Variant of ESSM missile

Published Aug 21, 11:15 AM UTC

The U.S. Navy, through the Naval Sea Systems Command, has issued a sources sought notice seeking industry proposals for a Next Significant Variant (NSV) of the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM). The notice, posted on August 20, calls for designs that fit the existing 10-inch diameter to allow quad-pack storage in Mk 41 Vertical Launching Systems without ship modifications. The new variant must be releasable to all 12 NATO SEASPARROW consortium nations (Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Türkiye, and the United States). Requirements include handling a wider range of threats, operating in contested environments, tracking multiple closely spaced targets, and countering jamming. The Navy seeks a Modular Open Systems Approach with Government Purpose Rights to technical data. Responses are due October 19, and the notice may lead to a contract or prototype award. No timeline or cost estimates have been disclosed.