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Home : Media : News
NEWS | Oct. 29, 2018

Seasparrow launcher and platform to receive upgrades for Future ISEA

By J.W. Marcum, NSWC PHD Public Affairs NSWC PHD

Work has commenced on the refurbishment and modification of the NATO Seasparrow Missile System (NSSMS) platform and MK 132 Guided Missile Launching System located at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD).

The surface-to-air ship defense system is being upgraded to support deployment of the Evolved Seasparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2, which employs an active- and semi-active guidance system to meet current and anticipated future threats.

The project is one of many current and future endeavors launched by NSWC PHD in support of the ISEA of the Future, which builds upon key innovation milestones and actions to support the next-generation Navy.

Barrett has served as the NAVSEA customer advocate and program manager for NSSMS and the NSSMS Depot since 2005. Both are in support of Program Executive Office, Integrated Warfare System (PEO IWS) 12, the NATO Seasparrow Program Office (NSPO). Prior to this position he supported the program at NSWC PHD as a NSSMS engineer for 16 years and before that as a NSSMS contractor for two years. The NATO Seasparrow Project is now in its 50th year and is the longest running, most successful cooperative weapons program in NATO.

“Over the years I worked various details through the NSSMS program, learning all aspects of what it takes to be an ISEA and supporting the fleet both technically and logistically,” said Barrett.

“The MIN-MOD program came about when the program office and NAVSEA could not come to a contractual agreement with the design agent for a replacement launcher for the NSSMS MK 57 system,” he continued. “The replacement launcher had to have the ability to be able to fire the ESSM Block 2. This situation also drove a new requirement to make the contractual process competitive, which meant a minimum of at least two to three years were needed before a first article replacement would be seen by the fleet.”

According to Barret, details of the program were quickly developed through High Velocity Learning and collaborative efforts, LEAN, Six-Sigma principles and by involving Junior Professionals (JP) in the development and execution process.

“I saw this as an opportunity for the NSSMS NSWC PHD team to step in and provide a plausible solution to the PEO to still deliver the ESSM Block 2 capability to the fleet during an interim period while the process for the launcher's replacement was taking place,” said Barrett. “When we developed the MIN-MOD program for the NSPO, we incorporated the [NSWC PHD] Strategic Objectives, Improve Integrated Combat System Readiness; Accelerate Deployment of New Capabilities to the Fleet; and Improve Affordability of Integrated Combat Systems.”

The MIN-MOD program partnerships include subject matter experts from NSWC PHD; NAVSEA Technical Warrant Holders; the Naval Packaging, Handling, Storage and Transportation Division, NSWC Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division’s Picattiny Detachment; and NSWC Dahlgren Division’s principle for safety, design agent; and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory