Equipping the Royal Canadian Navy frigates to defend against new and evolving anti-ship threats more effectively than ever before, the ESSM Block 2 represents a major leap forward for the Halifax-class frigates’ Point Defence Missile System.
Designed to complement Canada’s existing fleet of capable ESSM Block 1 rather than replace it, the new ESSM Block 2 completed a series of rigorous risk reduction firings in October 2023. These tests confirmed the Block 2 advanced capabilities of its optimized mode and integration into the modified Combat Management System.
Over the past year and a half, the project team successfully completed three challenging flight tests, following four Waterfront Integration Tests that required extensive preparation and collaboration across various units, external agencies, and our NATO SeaSparrow Consortium partners.
About Point Defence Missile System Upgrade Project
The objective of the Halifax-class Point Defence Missile System Upgrade (PDMSU) project is to develop and acquire an evolution to the current Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Point Defence Missile System, fitted in the Halifax-class ships. This work will sustain the Royal Canadian Navy’s Halifax-class ships’ ability to defend against current and future threats originating from surface, sub-surface, air, and land-based platforms.
The PDMSU project has the following project outcomes:
- Develop an improved point defence missile as part of a 12-country initiative;
- Acquire and integrate an upgraded Point Defence Missile System for the Halifax-class;
- Acquire stock of the ESSM Block 2.
Once introduced into service, the missile and its capabilities will be contributing to various Program Inventories under Operations and Ready Forces. The PDMSU project will deliver the following capabilities to the DND/CAF, specifically the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN):
- Provide improved capabilities which will contribute towards ensuring operations within Canada, North America, and internationally are effective; and
- Acquire new capabilities to ensure Canada and North America are defended against threats and attacks.
About ESSM
ESSM is a medium-range, all-weather, semi-active radar-guided missile used in surface-to-air and surface-to-surface roles. ESSM represents more than four decades of technology and design improvements by a 43-year international cooperative partnership composed of 12 nations, 10 of which employ ESSM (and FMS to 3 countries: Japan, UAE and Thailand).
According to open sources, the RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) has a range of about 27 nautical miles (50 Km) and a top speed of Mach 4+.
Unlike Block 1, Block 2’s active radar homing seeker will support terminal engagement without the launch ship’s target illumination radars. The improved ESSM Block 2 was fielded by the US Navy from 2020.
