ST Engineering iDirect Joins NATO Missile Program
ST Engineering iDirect's manufacturing center in Belgium has been selected by Raytheon to support the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block II program for NATO. The facility will contribute to the production of the advanced, all-weather, ship-based defensive missile system.
- The ST Engineering iDirect facility in Erpe-Mere, Belgium, is AS/EN 9100 certified for Aviation, Space, and Defense, a key qualification for its selection by Raytheon. Its manufacturing processes are aligned with the rigorous quality standards required for mission-critical defense programs. - This manufacturing center has been recognized four times as a "Factory of the Future," reflecting its high level of digitization, innovation, and operational excellence in high-reliability electronics manufacturing. - The Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) Block II is an upgrade to the Block 1 missile, featuring a dual-mode X-band seeker that allows it to engage threats without requiring illumination from the launching ship's radars. - The ESSM program is the longest-running cooperative weapons project in NATO's history, involving a consortium of 12 nations, including Belgium. Raytheon delivered the 500th ESSM Block 2 missile to the U.S. Navy in October 2025 and aims to nearly double production rates by mid-2026. - ST Engineering iDirect's Belgian center has previous experience in high-stakes electronics, having been certified by the European Space Agency (ESA) to produce components for spacecraft flight systems. - The ESSM Block II is designed to counter supersonic, maneuvering anti-ship missiles and can be "quad-packed" into a single cell of a ship's Mark 41 Vertical Launch System, significantly increasing the vessel's missile capacity.
