Norway's Fridtjof Nansen-class Frigate Successfully Tests ESSM Block 2 Missile
The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (FMA) reported the first live firing of the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile (ESSM) Block 2 from the Fridtjof Nansen-class frigate KNM Otto Sverdrup. The test, conducted off the coast of Andøya, aimed to validate the missile's new software, communication features, and guidance capabilities within the Aegis combat system. The ESSM Block 2, manufactured by RTX, features a dual-mode radar seeker enabling autonomous guidance and allowing combat systems to engage multiple targets simultaneously. Data analysis is ongoing with U.S. Navy support.
Why it matters
The ESSM Block 2's autonomous guidance allows Aegis systems to engage multiple targets without reliance on shipboard illuminators.
Source: Naval News — read the original
Source published 2 Oct 2026, 08:21 UTC