REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – Missiles experts at Lockheed Martin Corp. and Raytheon Technologies Corp. will build additional Javelin anti-tank missiles, which have achieved fame in the Russia-Ukraine war as one of the most lethal weapons used against invading Russian armored combat vehicles.
Officials of the U.S. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., announced a $311.2 million order last month to the Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture based in Tucson, Ariz., to build Javelin weapon systems. The order is for full-rate production of Javelin missiles.
Javelin, which has electro-optical guidance, is an infantry fire-and-forget anti-armor weapon 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-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.
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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 order the Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture will do the work in Tucson, Ariz., and should be finished by November 2025. For more information contact Raytheon at www.raytheonmissilesanddefense.com/what-we-do/land-warfare/precision-weapons/javelin-missile, or Lockheed Martin at www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/javelin.html.
