David's Sling vs RIM-162 ESSM: Specs Compared

FORCETALLY

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AAir defence

David's Sling

Medium to long range surface-to-air / anti-ballistic missile

BAir defence

RIM-162 ESSM

Medium-range surface-to-air missile Surface-to-surface missile

First system

Second system

At a glance

Side by side

Length comparisonOne shared metre scale

David's Slingwith booster

4.95 m

Length source ↗

RIM-162 ESSMLength

3.66 m

Length source ↗

Lengths retain their source configuration and measurement scope.

Measured figures

Head to head

12 of 44 rows sourced on both sides

4.95mwith booster

3.66m

Length

All recorded figures & sources

3.38 m

est without booster est

Single source

4.95 m

with booster

Single source

Configuration

Details

David's Sling and RIM-162 ESSM configuration
Specification	David's Sling	RIM-162 ESSM
Type	Medium to long range surface-to-air / anti-ballistic missile^[source]	Medium-range surface-to-air missile Surface-to-surface missile^[source]
Place of origin	Israel United States^[source]	United States^[source]
In service	Israel Defense Forces (2017–present)^[source]	2004^[source]
Designer	Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Raytheon Missiles & Defense^[source]

Designed	2009–present^[source]	—

Manufacturer	Rafael and Raytheon^[source]	Raytheon^[source]

Unit cost	US$700,000^[source]	US$956,000 (FY2016) US$1,795,000 (FY2021) (average)^[source]

Produced	2017–present^[source]	September 1998^[source]

Detonation mechanism	Kinetic Hit-to-kill^[source]	Proximity fuze^[source]

Propellant	Two-stage Solid^[source]	—

Guidance system	AESA MMW 3D Radar Dual Electro-optical FPA CCD + IIR Seeker Asymmetric 360° Multi-Seeker assembly 3-way Datalink with real time automatic and manual retargeting ECCM + IRCCM^[source]	Mid-course update datalink Terminal semi-active radar homing for Block 1, dual semi-active/ active radar homing for Block 2^[source]

Steering system	Supermaneuverable Asymmetric Kill Vehicle^[source]	—

References	Janes^[source]	—

Used by	—	Australia, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and the US^[source]

No. built	—	2000th missile delivered 2 August 2012^[source]

Warhead	—	86 lb (39 kg) blast- fragmentation^[source]

Engine	—	Mk 134 Mod 0 solid fuel rocket^[source]

Launch platform	—	Mk 41 VLS (RIM-162A/B) Mk 48 VLS (RIM-162C) Mk 56 VLS Mk 57 VLS (RIM-162F) Mk 29 box launcher (RIM-162D/G)^[source]

Source measurement	—	In addition to the Mk 29 GMLS and Mk 41 VLS, the other primary launcher is Mk 48 VLS . The 2-cell module of Mk 48 makes the system very versatile and enables it to be installed on board in spaces that otherwise cannot be used. The weight of a 2-cell module of Mk 48 is 660 kg (1,450 lb; including empty canisters), 330 kg (725 lb) for exhaust system, and 360 kg (800 lb) for ship installation interfaces. Each canister of the Mk 48 VLS houses a single RIM-7VL (Vertically Launched) Sea Sparrow cell or two RIM-162 ESSM cells, though, with modification, other missiles can also be launched. There are a total of four models in the Mk 48 family, with Mod 0 & 1 housing either 2 RIM-7VL or 4 RIM-162 cells, Mod 2 housing either 16 RIM-7VL or 32 RIM-162 cells. Mod 0/1/2 are usually grouped into either a 16-cell module for RIM-7VL or a 32-cell module for RIM-162. Mod 3 fits into the StanFlex modules on Royal Danish Navy ships and can house either 6 RIM-7VL or 12 RIM-162 cells; the Danes now use the latter.^[source]RIM-162 ESSM · Launchers / Mk 48; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage In November 2003, approximately 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the Azores , the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën conducted a live fire test of a single ESSM. This firing was the first ever live firing involving a full-size ship-borne active electronically scanned array (i.e. the APAR radar) guiding a missile using the Interrupted Continuous Wave Illumination (ICWI) technique in an operational environment. As related by Jane's Navy International:^[source]RIM-162 ESSM · Operational history; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage Further live firings were performed by the RNLN frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën in March 2005, again in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 180 nautical miles (330 km) west of the Azores. The tests involved three live-firing events (two of which involved the ESSM) including firing a single SM-2 Block IIIA at an Iris target drone at long range, a single ESSM at an Iris target drone, and a two-salvo launch (with one salvo comprising two SM-2 Block IIIAs and the other comprising two ESSMs) against two incoming Iris target drones.^[source]RIM-162 ESSM · Operational history; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Source measurement

—

In addition to the Mk 29 GMLS and Mk 41 VLS, the other primary launcher is Mk 48 VLS . The 2-cell module of Mk 48 makes the system very versatile and enables it to be installed on board in spaces that otherwise cannot be used. The weight of a 2-cell module of Mk 48 is 660 kg (1,450 lb; including empty canisters), 330 kg (725 lb) for exhaust system, and 360 kg (800 lb) for ship installation interfaces. Each canister of the Mk 48 VLS houses a single RIM-7VL (Vertically Launched) Sea Sparrow cell or two RIM-162 ESSM cells, though, with modification, other missiles can also be launched. There are a total of four models in the Mk 48 family, with Mod 0 & 1 housing either 2 RIM-7VL or 4 RIM-162 cells, Mod 2 housing either 16 RIM-7VL or 32 RIM-162 cells. Mod 0/1/2 are usually grouped into either a 16-cell module for RIM-7VL or a 32-cell module for RIM-162. Mod 3 fits into the StanFlex modules on Royal Danish Navy ships and can house either 6 RIM-7VL or 12 RIM-162 cells; the Danes now use the latter.^[source]RIM-162 ESSM · Launchers / Mk 48; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

In November 2003, approximately 200 nautical miles (370 km) from the Azores , the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën conducted a live fire test of a single ESSM. This firing was the first ever live firing involving a full-size ship-borne active electronically scanned array (i.e. the APAR radar) guiding a missile using the Interrupted Continuous Wave Illumination (ICWI) technique in an operational environment. As related by Jane's Navy International:^[source]RIM-162 ESSM · Operational history; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Further live firings were performed by the RNLN frigate HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën in March 2005, again in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 180 nautical miles (330 km) west of the Azores. The tests involved three live-firing events (two of which involved the ESSM) including firing a single SM-2 Block IIIA at an Iris target drone at long range, a single ESSM at an Iris target drone, and a two-salvo launch (with one salvo comprising two SM-2 Block IIIAs and the other comprising two ESSMs) against two incoming Iris target drones.^[source]RIM-162 ESSM · Operational history; only the objects and conditions stated in this passage

Reported operators	Reported operator · Israel	Reported operator · Australia Reported operator · Canada Reported operator · Denmark Reported operator · Germany Reported operator · Greece Reported operator · Netherlands Reported operator · Norway Reported operator · Spain Reported operator · Turkey Reported operator · United States Reported operator · Belgium Reported operator · Chile Reported operator · Finland Reported operator · Japan Reported operator · Mexico Reported operator · Portugal Reported operator · Thailand Reported operator · United Arab Emirates