BAE Systems Australia global technology milestone

World leading technology developed in Australia by BAE Systems has achieved a global program milestone.

The technology designed and manufactured in Australia controls the supersonic Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) as it leaves a ship’s Vertical Launch System.

The specific technology is called a Thrust Vector Controller and some 3000 have been produced at BAE Systems’ advanced manufacturing facility at Edinburgh Parks, South Australia, since production started in the late 1990s.

BAE Systems Chief Executive Gabby Costigan said: “This is a great example of a global program that required world leading technology and the solution was found here in Australia.

“The ESSM program, together with the Nulka Active Missile Decoy program, have established BAE Systems as Australia’s capability provider of guided weapons and autonomous systems to the our Defence force and allied nations.”

The next-generation ESSM incorporates technology upgrades that are currently being tested in flight trials at sea. It will be more effective against ever-evolving Anti-Ship Cruise Missile threats.

BAE Systems Australia has been responsible for delivering more than 20 per cent of each ESSM with contracts to date worth around $400 million. In the new program, BAE Systems will also manufacture the missile fuselage, guidance section internal structure, and telemetry transmitter.

Low Rate Initial Production will start in 2019 and Full Rate Production is expected in 2021 at an estimated contract value of approximately $32 million per annum over the next decade.