{"id":59662,"date":"2025-05-21T22:19:20","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T20:19:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=59662"},"modified":"2026-05-21T01:02:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T23:02:03","slug":"the-launch-of-a-rim-162-essm-missile-by-the-spanish-frigate-cristobal-colon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2025\/05\/21\/the-launch-of-a-rim-162-essm-missile-by-the-spanish-frigate-cristobal-colon\/","title":{"rendered":"The launch of a RIM-162 ESSM missile by the Spanish frigate 'Crist\u00f3bal Col\u00f3n'"},"content":{"rendered":"

Currently, warships are most vulnerable to air attack by aircraft, missiles, or drones.<\/p>\n

Naval Strike Missile: the modern anti-ship missile that the Spanish Navy will receive<\/a><\/rel>
\nThis is a shot of the main gun of the F-100 frigates of the Spanish Navy<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n

The Spanish frigates of the \"\u00c1lvaro de Baz\u00e1n\" class<\/strong>, also known as F-100, are equipped with two types of missiles to deal with air threats: the RIM-66L Standard SM-2MR Block IIIA<\/strong> (a variant specifically designed for the AEGIS combat system, with up to 48 units housed in the Mk.41 missile launch system, with one missile per cell) and the RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile or ESSM<\/strong> (up to 192 units, with up to four missiles per cell). Both missiles are manufactured by the American company Raytheon.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
A RIM-162 ESSM missile fired from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) on July 23, 2010, during an exercise off the coast of Southern California (Photo: U.S. Navy).<\/div>\n

The RIM-162 ESSM is based on the famous AIM-7 Sparrow medium-range air-to-air missile<\/strong>, in service since 1956 and more recent versions of which are still in service with various air forces. Based on the AIM-7, the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow was born in 1976<\/strong>, a naval version also used by the Spanish Navy, with a speed of 4,256 km\/h and a range of 19 kilometers. The RIM-162 ESSM has been in service since 2004<\/strong> and is an extensive redesign of the RIM-7, almost being a new missile due to its numerous improvements. Its initial variant, the RIM-162A, was specifically designed for ships with the AEGIS system, such as the Spanish F-100 frigates.<\/strong> It has a range of over 50 kilometers and a speed exceeding Mach 4 (4,939 hm\/h).<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/div>\n
The Spanish Navy's F-105 frigate \"Crist\u00f3bal Col\u00f3n\" along with other allied ships during exercise Formidable Shield 2025. Above, we see a US Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (Photo: U.S. Navy).<\/div>\n

From May 1 to 31, the Spanish Navy's F-105 frigate \"Crist\u00f3bal Col\u00f3n\" is participating in the Formidable Shield 2025 exercise,<\/strong> organized by NATO and taking place in northern Europe, in a strip that goes from Norway to the United Kingdom. This is a multinational integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) exercise,<\/strong> led by the United States Navy's Sixth Fleet and in which, in addition to ships from several allied countries, Norwegian F-35 fighters and British Eurofighters<\/strong> also participate. In addition, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States will also participate in this exercise with maritime patrol aircraft, NATO reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Formidable Shield is Europe's largest live-fire naval exercise,<\/strong> and includes \"a series of complex Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) and Air Defence (AD) missions in a complex operating environment,\"<\/em> according to NATO. \"Participants will share tactical data, engage in NATO-level planning, and practice coordinated responses to complex scenarios<\/strong>, further enhancing integration and interoperability between Allies and the warfighting domains.\"<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

This Monday, the Spanish Navy published the photos you see here<\/a> of crew members of the frigate \"Crist\u00f3bal Col\u00f3n\" with fireproof equipment during a battle drill<\/strong> in the Combat Information Center (CIC) of the ship during this Atlantic Alliance exercise. This Monday, the Spanish Navy published a video of missile launches in this exercise<\/a>. The second launch in the video is that of the RIM-162 ESSM by the frigate \"Crist\u00f3bal Col\u00f3n\":<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Nuestra fragata #Crist\u00f3balCol\u00f3n<\/a> est\u00e1 participando en #FormidableShield25<\/a>, el adiestramiento avanzado en lanzamiento de misiles imprescindible para mejorar la preparaci\u00f3n para el combate. #SomosLaArmada<\/a>\u2693\ud83c\uddea\ud83c\uddf8 pic.twitter.com\/kKGW0E850d<\/a><\/p>\n

— Armada (@Armada_esp) May 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n