FGM-148 Javelin Anti-Tank Missile

What is a Javelin Missile?

The Javelin surface-attack guided missile and launcher is a fire-and-forget, man-portable medium close combat missile system consisting of a command launch unit (CLU) and a round.

It is capable of defeating all known and projected armor, as well as soft and irregular targets. Javelin is developed and produced by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership of Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a business of Raytheon Technologies, and Lockheed Martin.

An Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) is a category of rocket-based weapon that is primarily use against armored vehicles. While rockets in warfare were used as early as the 11th century, they were crude and used more for their psychological effects. The advancement of mechanized, armored warfare during World War II marked the beginning of the rocket’s use as a practical anti-armor weapon by the infantry. These light, man-portable rockets were essentially rocket-propelled grenades (RPG), with no form of guidance other than how the operator pointed the launcher. What allowed them to defeat armor and remain compact was the development of the shaped charge, based on the Munroe effect. These anti-tank rockets generally weighed roughly 1.5 kg and were able to puncture 60 mm of steel plate. As armor developed during the course of the war, the size of the warhead had to be increased to match.

Man-portable ATGMs are still needed as the individual soldier is more agile and readily deployed than vehicles. The solution to allow a soldier to launch these more massive missiles came in the development of a two-stage motor (Fig. 1). The first motor, in what’s called a soft launch, produces enough thrust to launch the missile out of the tube and a safe distance away, but was completely burned before the nozzle left the tube, leaving no exhaust to hit the operator. The flight motor would then ignite to propel the ATGM along its attack path.

Fig 1.  FGM 148 Javelin (Launch/Flight Motors Highlightened)

Javelin’s optimized trajectory, automated guidance and high penetration capability provides unparalleled performance against heavy and light armor, as well as “soft” and irregular targets. Developed and produced by the Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture, Javelin is used as the mainstay Brigade Combat Team weapon for the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. Using “fire-and-forget” technology, the weapon guides itself to the target without external commands, controls or target designation – allowing soldiers and platform assets to rapidly engage a second target, take cover or reposition. To further increase operator survivability, Javelin can employ a top-attack target engagement trajectory using a low signature, minimum smoke motor that reduces engagement detectability by the enemy. An infrared seeker enables day/night all-weather operations that, together with sophisticated signal processing and tracking/guidance algorithms, provides high accuracy precision engagements as well as robust counter-measure resistance for the modern battlefield environment.

The tactical system, composed of the Command Launch Unit (CLU) and all-up round, is single man-portable and routinely transported by dismounted forces in combat conditions. The system is qualified for transport by ground tactical and transport vehicles, as well as rail, sea, and air transport. The CLU provides all-weather battlefield surveillance and targeting by means of visual and long-wave infrared optics and provides detection, recognition, and identification capability, supporting operations across the engagement envelope. While Javelin has traditionally been used as a dismounted weapon, Javelin has also been integrated onto numerous fixed platforms and vehicles. For this use, the standard configuration round is mounted onto a remote weapons station or manned/unmanned turret using a modest integration kit. Javelin offers more than 20 years of proven performance, which includes combat operations in multiple theaters with more than 5,000 firings. It is currently in-service in 18 allied countries. With orders for more than 45,000 Javelins, the weapon system is expected to be in the U.S. military’s operational inventory through 2050. As such, Javelin is subject to continual upgrades to retain overmatch against emerging threats and to support evolving operational needs.

SPECIFICATIONS

Range: 65 meters to 4 kilometers in most operational conditions Guidance: Autonomous fire-and-forget operation using a passive imaging infrared seeker CLU Sights: 4x day and 4x or 12x thermal Warhead: Tandem-shaped charge multi-purpose warhead Weight: 25 lb (11.8 kg) missile 15.4 lb (7.0 kg) CLU 34 lb (15.5 kg) round Length: 42.6 in (108.2 cm) missile 47.2 in (119.8 cm) launch tube Diameter: 5.0 in (12.7 cm) missile 5.6 in (14.2 cm) launch tube Storage: Temperatures must be maintained between -46 °C to +71 °C

Proven Performance

• In service with 18 Countries

• 20 years of performance

• 10.000 CLU produced

• 5000 combat firings

• 45000 produced