The U.S. Army has received its first launchers for the new-generation Javelin anti-tank missiles
A joint venture between Lockheed Martin and RTX has delivered the first lightweight launchers for the Javelin anti-tank missile system (LWCLU version) to the U.S. Army.
This was reported by Defense Express. It took nearly four years to complete this delivery since the contract was signed in June 2022. The updated launcher is designed to reduce the load on infantrymen, as its weight has been reduced by 25% and its dimensions by 30%, while the range for detecting and identifying targets has doubled.
The new LWCLU is fully compatible with all variants of the Javelin anti-tank missiles, including existing models and future developments. Despite the active development of unmanned technologies in modern warfare and the high cost of the FGM-148F missile, which reaches about $200,000, demand for these anti-tank systems remains consistently high. The U.S. expects this anti-tank missile system to remain operational for at least the next 30 years, a fact underscored by efforts to expand its production.
Currently, there is a decrease in the number of instances of “classic” ATGMs being used on the battlefield—which often fall short of drones in terms of range and cost—compared to the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. One promising way to maintain the effectiveness of this weaponry is to integrate the systems onto ground-based robotic platforms. However, in real combat conditions, this concept has not yet seen widespread use and awaits the emergence of new types of robotics.
The U.S. State Department has given the “green light” for the potential sale of modern Javelin anti-tank missile systems and related equipment to the Estonian government, valued at approximately $296 million.
U.S. Vice President Vance stated that it is precisely thanks to the supply of weapons, particularly the Javelin, that Ukraine has been able to maintain control over a significant portion of its territory and continues to resist a full-scale Russian invasion.
