Lockheed Martin, this is how the US military supports the production of Javelins
Lockheed Martin has been awarded two contracts by the US Army totaling $ 309 million for the production of 1,300 Javelin missile systems. Washington sent over 5,500 to Kiev
Lockheed Martin has received two contracts worth $ 309 million from the US military for its Javelin missiles.
This was announced on Monday by the American defense giant that produces these anti-tank missiles in collaboration with Raytheon. The anti-tank missile system is the protagonist today on the Ukrainian side of the conflict triggered by the Russian invasion. In particular, Washington sent over 5,500 Javelins to Kiev. According to experts, the Javelins played an important role for the Ukrainian army against Russian forces.
Demand for Javelin missiles therefore remains high as the war in Ukraine continues. Just two weeks ago Lockheed Martin announced plans to double the production of Javelin missiles from 2,100 to 4,000 annually.
The manufacturer added that the contracts include more than 1,300 Javelin missiles funded by the recent Ukraine Supplementary Appropriation Act and orders for several international customers including Norway, Albania, Latvia and Thailand.
All the details.
THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ANTI-TANK MISSILES
The FGM-148 Javelin missile is a portable weapon, which is used on the shoulder – weighs about twenty kilos – has a range of 2,500 meters, “fire & forget” capability.
The Javelin can be used from the ground but also aboard tracked and rotated vehicles to increase the lethality of combat vehicles.
LOCKHEED MARTIN WILL INCREASE JAVELIN PRODUCTION
Lockheed Martin is investing to increase the missile production rate beyond the current 2,100 per year. Likewise, Raytheon is investing to maximize production of the lightweight and reusable launch control unit (CLU).
To date, the Javelin Joint Venture has produced more than 50,000 Javelin missiles and more than 12,000 reusable launch control units. The missile system is expected to remain in the US weapons arsenal until 2050 and is subject to continuous updates to maintain technological supremacy against emerging threats and to support evolving operational needs.
USED IN UKRAINE BY THE KIEV FORCES
Today these missiles have become crucial for the resistance of the Ukrainians to the advance of the Russian army.
The country had already purchased 210 missiles and 37 launchers in March 2018, for $ 47 million, followed by another order in June 2020 for another $ 150 million, DefenseNews recalls.
Kiev has already received more than 5,500 Javelin missiles and the United States and other allies have pledged to send more, but their production is time-consuming and expensive – $ 176,000 per system.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/lockheed-martin-ecco-come-lesercito-usa-sostiene-la-produzione-dei-javelin/ on Wed, 18 May 2022 05:51:10 +0000.