Javelin’s Expanding Impact Around the Globe
Over the past year, the popularity of the Javelin weapon system has risen due to the increased demand for its proven capabilities to deter and defend against threats worldwide. It truly is a key component of our 21st Century Security vision, and, with the support from a recent contract award by the U.S. Army, the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV) is working to nearly double its current production rate of 2,100 Javelins per year to 3,960 per year by 2026.
“Javelin’s success on the battlefield continues to prove its international appeal as a combat-proven precision weapon system,” said Charles Michaels, the Javelin international senior program manager. “Its fire-and-forget capability has made the system a key deterrent for both our domestic services and our international allies.”
By investing in long-lead supply chain parts and equipment needed to support higher rates of production, the Javelin program has a well-formed development roadmap for the future with several potential new international customers lined up and a handful of additional platform integration opportunities.
Europe
Due to the conflict in Ukraine, the region has shown the most increased demand for Javelin. There are currently 13 European countries that are Javelin users, the latest addition being North Macedonia.
North Macedonia entered their first foreign military sale (FMS) as a part of the recent FY23B contract. Under the agreement, they will be the first international customer to integrate Javelin onto the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), which will ideally lead to more global opportunities.
In recent years, Poland has taken an increased interest in several key Lockheed Martin products including Javelin. In June 2023, the Polish Ministry of National Defense (MOD), Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) and the U.S. government visited Pike County Operations facility in Troy, Alabama. The group toured the Javelin factory and held discussions regarding a strategic long-term international partnership in Poland that would help drive competition, lower costs and increase capabilities. Among the Polish delegates who were visiting were Slawomir Cichocki, the Director of Armaments Policy Department for the Polish MOD, and Col. Jacek Brzezinski, the Division Head in Armaments Agency for the Polish MOD.
There are also multiple platform integration opportunities on the horizon for Javelin with key European allies. As an increased demand continues across Europe, the JJV is working with five potential new European customers pursuits and stands ready to support customer readiness worldwide.
Indo-Pacific
The Indo-Pacific region is another key area where there has been increased interest in the shoulder-fired and platform-employed guided missile system. Current international customers in that region include Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan and Australia.
On March 7, 2023, the U.S. government approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of Javelin FGM-148F missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $60.18 million.
During that same month, the Australian Army held a Javelin live fire demonstration at Singleton Military Training Area in New South Wales, Australia. Army fired a Javelin missile from an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to demonstrate the weapon’s integration capabilities onto the platform.
There are also a handful of integration opportunities being pursued over the long term including onto both Australian, Indonesian and Thai platforms. Javelin has many strategic long-term international partnerships (e.g. Australia) which allows customers around the world to use Javelin to deter and defend against any potential threats.
Middle East/North Africa
In the Middle East and North Africa, there are currently four international customers: Jordan, Oman, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. The Javelin program is currently pursuing future international customer opportunities in this region, and the JJV continues to look for future international customer and integration opportunities.
Javelin is developed and produced by the JJV, a joint partnership between Raytheon in Tucson, Arizona and Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Florida. To date, the JJV has produced more than 50,000 Javelin missiles and more than 12,000 reusable Command Launch Units. Javelin is expected to remain in the U.S. weapon arsenal until 2050.
