SEA SPARROW  SHORT RANGE SAM

HISTORY

In the early 1960s the Sparrow proved to be the best missile to form the basis of the Basic Point Defense Missile System (BPDMS) for the US Navy. The first missile used, the RIM-7E5, of what has now become a family of Sea Sparrow missiles, was derived from the AIM-7E Sparrow air-to-air missile. This was then reconfigured into the RIM-7H round and then the RIM-7F was used, based on the much improved AIM-7F. The semi-active radar-homing Sea Sparrow's performance was quite impressive as its engagement range was between 14.9 and 22.3 km (9.25 and 13.86 miles) depending upon the target's altitude, which could lie between 30 and 15240 m (100 and 50,000 ft). All versions were, however, considered deficient against low-flying cruise missiles which had by then become a major threat to US naval forces. In order to rectify this defect, low altitude radar guidance and fusing capabilities were to be given to Block I RIM-'IF missiles to enable them to hit targets below 15 m (50 ft), whilst Block II missiles were to get enhanced ECCM features. However, both fixes were dropped from the programme as the RIM-7production line by the monopulse seeker-equipped RIM-7M version of the AIM-7M. This incorporates all the improvements from the start and in fact the US Navy is replacing all the previous Sea Sparrow variants in service by this missile as fast as it can. The NATO Sea Sparrow system differs from the BPDMS mainly in having fire control systems that allow completely automatic engagements from target acquisition to missile impact. The missile used is the folding fin RIM-TH5 version designed to fit the more compact eight-round launchers that NATO navies use. An Improved PDMS was introduced into the US Navy from 19~3 onwards, and this has a much improved target-acquisition radar and data-handling system. The Sea Sparrow is operated by Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Japan, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, the USA and West Germany.