$36 million component contract

has been awarded a $36 million contract by

of Tucson Arizona for the continued production of Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile (ESSM) components.

This contract takes the value of the ESSM business awarded to BAE Systems Australia to over $200 million.

Developed under a collaborative program between Australia, the United States, Canada and other NATO Nations, ESSM protects warships against anti-ship missiles.

BAE Systems Australia’s Weapons Systems business in Melbourne is the lead Australian ESSM sub-contractor to Raytheon Missile Systems. BAE Systems Australia, ADI Limited, Hawker De Havilland and other members of the Australian Industry Defence Network (AIDN), have designed, developed and manufactured many of the flight control and guidance elements of the missile.

The program has created 200 jobs in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales and is expected to grow, having received forward production commitments until at least 2012.