Raytheon has delivered the 2,000th Evolved SeaSparrow Missile to the NATO SeaSparrow Consortium. "ESSM is a model for global operations, and the delivery of our 2,000th missile demonstrates the significant commitment of our international team to continue providing this critical capability to the warfighter," said Ed Roesly, Raytheon Missile Systems' ESSM program director.

"We have delivered ESSMs for a decade and expect continued production past 2017."

Deployed by the U.S. Navy and 11 international fleets, ESSM defends the battlespace by delivering ship self-defense firepower against high-G maneuvering anti-ship cruise missiles, as well as surface and low-velocity air threats.

As a tail-controlled missile, ESSM uses recent enhancements to its guidance system to take advantage of improved seeker sensitivity, increased propulsion and greater weapon accuracy.

Combined, these features result in ESSM arriving at the intercept point with more speed and agility to counter the threat.