Army orders electro-optically guided anti-armor missiles for Lithuania and Taiwan in $175.9 million deal
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – Missiles experts at Lockheed Martin Corp. and Raytheon Co., are building Javelin anti-armor missiles for the militaries of Lithuania and Taiwan under terms of a $175.9 million order announced Tuesday.
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 Lithuania and Taiwan under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
The electro-optically guided Javelin anti-armor weapon 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.
The contract includes all up rounds, command launch unit retrofits, battery coolant units, Javelin outdoor trainers, outdoor trainer instruction station, tripods, Javelin vehicle launcher, and electronics.
Javelin has an imaging infrared-guided 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 missiles offer 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 order the Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture will do the work in Tucson, Ariz., and should be finished by November 2023. For more information contact Raytheon at www.raytheonmissilesanddefense.com/capabilities/products/javelin-missile, or Lockheed Martin at www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/javelin.html.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
