Army orders more Javelin anti-tank missiles for U.S. allies in $307.5 million deal
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. –Missiles experts at Lockheed Martin Corp. and Raytheon Co., are building Javelinanti-tank missiles for the governments of Australia, Estonia, Lithuania, Turkey, Taiwan, and Ukraine, under terms of a $307.5 million order announced this week.
Officials of the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., are asking the Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture based in Tucson, Ariz., to build Javelin weapon systems for these U.S. allies.
The electro-optically guided Javelin is an infantry fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance designed to destroy main battle tanks, armored personnel carriers, and other armored combat vehicles. The missile also is effective against buildings and enemy helicopters.
Javelin has an imaging infrared seeker to guide the warhead to its target. The tandem warhead has two shaped charges: a precursor warhead to detonate any explosive reactive armor, and a primary warhead to penetrate base armor.
Javelin offers lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance that attacks the vulnerable tops of armored vehicles. A two-person infantry team typically carries the missile.
Raytheon produces the command launch unit, missile guidance electronic unit, and system software at Raytheon Missile Systems segment in Tucson, Ariz. Lockheed Martin, meanwhile, produces the missile seeker and the electronic safe, arm, and fire electronic module in Ocala, Fla., and performs missile all-up-round assembly in Troy, Ala.
On this contract the Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture will do the work in Tucson, Ariz., and should be finished by August 2021.
For more information contact Raytheon at www.raytheon.com/capabilities/products/javelin, or Lockheed Martin at www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/Javelin.html.
Ready to make a purchase? Search the Intelligent Aerospace Buyer's Guide for companies, new products, press releases, and videos
John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
