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| A U.S. Marine fires a Javelin during a live-fire demonstration, March 30, 2015, as part of Exercise Summer Shield at Military Camp Adazi, Latvia. (Staff Sgt. Jessica Smith) |
Javelin is an anti-tank guided munition that can be carried and launched by a single person. It is made by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Lockheed Martin.
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| An Indian soldier fires the Javelin, Oct. 25, 2009, during a joint exercise with U.S. Soldiers at Camp Bundela, India. (Fred W. Baker III) |
It uses automatic infrared guidance that allows the user to seek cover immediately after launch, as opposed to wire-guided systems, which require the user to actively guide the weapon throughout the engagement.
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| (Spc. Thomas Duval 1/25 SBCT PAO) |
Javelin provides the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and numerous international customers with a medium-range, "fire-and-forget" missile for use against a wide array of targets including armored vehicles, bunkers and caves. The system’s Command Launch Unit, or sight, performs surveillance, allowing a gunner to see targets.
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| A soldier launches a Javelin anti-tank missile. 2 May 2003. (Sgt Mauricio Campino USMC) |
The weapon can be deployed from multiple platforms and used during the day, at night and in any kind of weather. The program has also demonstrated that Javelin can be fired from a remote launcher mounted on an unmanned ground vehicle.
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| A soldier launches a Javelin anti-tank missile. 2 May 2003. (Sgt Mauricio Campino USMC) |
In April 1991, the first test-flight of the Javelin succeeded, and in March 1993, the first test-firing from the launcher succeeded. In 1994, low levels of production were authorized, and the first Javelins were deployed with US Army units in 1996.
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| U.S. Army Spc. Colton Davis, an infantryman assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion fires a Javelin anti-tank missile during a combined arms live fire exercise as part of Exercise Eastern Action 2019 at Al-Ghalail Range in Qatar. Nov. 14, 2018. (U.S. Army National Guard photo illustration by Spc. Jovi Prevot) |
The missile achieved a higher range of 4,750 m during a demonstration in February 2013. Five Javelins were successfully fired as part of the joint exercise, called Yudh Abhyas, between the Indian and US armies in June 2013. A Javelin missile was successfully test-fired from a turret at Cranfield Ordnance Test and Evaluation Centre (COTEC) in May 2014.
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| Pictured is the Javelin Anti-Tank Missile system in the various different positions and stances that it could be fired from and how it can be carried in the correct way. 16 May 2017. (Stuart A Hill AMS) |
As a fire-and-forget missile, after launch the missile has to be able to track and destroy its target without the gunner. This is done by coupling an on-board imaging IR system (different from CLU imaging system) with an on-board tracking system.
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| Pictured is the Javelin Anti-Tank Missile system used in the hand held position (firer using his knees for stability). 16 May 2017. (Stuart A Hill AMS) |
The Javelin's HEAT warhead is capable of defeating modern tanks by attacking them from above where their armor is thinnest (see top-attack), and is also useful against fortifications in a direct attack flight.
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| Capt. Agur Kibur, a native of Parnu, Estonia, an operations officer for the Viru Single Infantry Battalion, looks through the Command Launch Unit for a Javelin anti-tank weapons system. 29 July 2014. (Sgt. John L. Carkeet IV, 143rd Sustainment Command) |
The Javelin system consists of the CLU and the round. With a carry weight of 6.4 kg, the CLU incorporates a passive target acquisition and fire control unit with integrated day sight and thermal imaging capabilities.
The gunner’s controls for the missile system are on the CLU. The day sight is equipped with x 4 magnification and the night sight with x 4 and x 9 magnification optics.
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| Pictured are elements of the Manoeuvre Support Group MSG from 42 Commando Royal Marines, based at Bickleigh Barracks Plymouth, whilst conducting live firing of the new Light Forces Anti-Tank Guided Weapon (LFATGW) Javelin. 28 July 2005. (Sean Clee) |
The round consists of the Javelin missile and the ATK (Alliant Techsystems) launch tube assembly. The range of the missile is 2,500 m. Javelin is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance.
The missile is equipped with an imaging infrared seeker, which is based on a cadmium mercury telluride (CdHgTe) 64 x 64 staring focal plane array in the 8 micron to 12 micron waveband. BAE Systems Avionics is providing the infrared seekers for the British army’s missiles.
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| The launch of a Javelin, Anti-Tank Guided Weapon (ATGW), which was part of a demonstration at Imber Camp, Warminster. 28 July 2005. (Andrew Linnett) |
More than 25,000 missiles have been produced and more than 6,600 command launch units have been sold to the US army and Marine Corps.
Javelin has been deployed extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq for combat missions. The total number of orders of the missile is more than 45,000 and it is expected to be operational with the US until 2050.
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| Cpl. Aaron Pickett, an anti-tank missilemen with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, fires a Javelin missile from the front of a Humvee during the Enhanced Mojave Viper training exercise at the Black Top Range Training Area on Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Calif.. 29 August 2011. ( DVIDSHUB) |
Current operators
Australia: 92 launchers and 600 missiles.
Bahrain: 13 launchers.
Czech Republic: Purchased 3 launchers and 12 missiles. An additional order was placed in December 2015 for an unknown number of missiles and launchers.
Estonia: 80 CLU (with option for additional 40) and 350 missiles.
France: 76 launchers and 260 missiles.
Georgia: 72 launchers and 410 missiles.
Indonesia: 25 launchers and 189 missiles.
Ireland: Irish Army, replaced MILAN anti-tank missile.
Jordan: 30 launchers and 116 missiles. Another 162 JAVELIN Command Launch Units (CLUs), 18 Fly-to-Buy Missiles, 1,808 JAVELIN Anti-Tank Guided Missiles and other support equipment was ordered in 2009.
Libya: Used by the Libyan National Army.
Lithuania: 40 launchers. In December 2015 DSCA approved for a possible Foreign Military Sale to Lithuania for another 220 missiles and 74 CLUs for $55 million.
New Zealand: 24 launchers.
Norway: 100 launchers and 526 missiles.
Oman: 30 launchers.
Qatar: 500 Javelin missiles and 50 CLU.
Saudi Arabia: 20 launchers and 150 missiles.
Taiwan: 360 Javelin missiles and 40 launcher units. In 2008, the United States issued a congressional notification for the sale of a further 20 launchers and 182 more missiles.
Ukraine: 210 missiles and 37 launchers. At the end of 2019, Ukraine announced it had signed contracts to purchase another 150 missiles and 10 launchers.
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom: 850 units and 9,000 missiles.
United States
Specifications
Mass: 22.3 kg (49.2 lb) (carry weight)
Detachable Command Launch Unit (CLU): 6.4 kg (14.1 lb)
Length: Missile: 1.1 m (43 in)
Launch tube: 1.2 m (47 in)
Missile diameter: 127 mm (5.0 in)
Launch tube: 142 mm (5.6 in)
Crew: 2
Effective firing range:
- original CLU: 2,500 m (1.6 mi)
- Lightweight CLU: 4,000 m (2.5 mi)
- from vehicle: 4,750 m (2.95 mi)
Warhead:
- Tandem shaped charge HEAT
- Penetration: 750mm+ RHA
Warhead weight: 8.4 kg (18.5 lb)
Detonation mechanism: Impact force
Engine: Solid-fuel rocket
Guidance system: infrared homing
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