$7.6M for Sparrow Misile Rocket Motors

RIM-7 Sea Sparrow Launch(click to view full) ATK Tactical Systems Co. in Rocket Center, WVA received a $7.6 million modification to previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract N00019-04-C-0019 for RIM-7P Rocket Motors (MK 58 MOD 6/7) and associated data in support of the Sparrow Missile Program. The total quantity of 370 motors will be provided to the Governments of Korea (239, $4.9M, 65%); Germany (67, $1.4M, 18%); Chile (50, $1M, 13%); Kuwait (10, $206,100; 3%); and Portugal (4, $82,440; 1%). Work will be performed in Rocket Center, WVA and is expected to be complete in May 2009. The Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD issued the contract. RIM-7P is a ship-launched version; the *IM-7P semi-active radar homing Sparrow missile features improved guidance electronics and on-board computer, and adds a new radar fuse and an uplink to the autopilot for mid-course guidance updates. These AIM-7P/RIM-7P modifications improve general performance, with an especial boost against small and/or low-flying targets. This weapon is still less effective than its successors the AIM-120 AMRAAM and the naval RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow.