UK Orders Further Javelin Anti-Tank Weapon Systems

The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defense has placed a follow-on order valued at approximately $180 million for additional Javelin JV company, a joint venture between Raytheon and Lockheed-Martin, Javelin anti-armor weapon systems.

The UK MoD already ordered medium-range, anti-tank Javelin weapon systems for its Light Forces anti-tank guided weapon program in 2003. The new weapon systems being ordered October 14 will meet the British Army's Armored Ground Component (AGC) requirement. Additional Command Launch Units (CLUs) and missile rounds will be produced through a hybrid foreign military sale/direct commercial sale.

The British decision has been encouraged by the excellent results of Javelin weapon systems used by the US Army units in recent military operations while deployed in Iraq. Its lightweight design permits to move quickly the weapon system throughout the battlefield and has enough power to take out the most heavily protected tanks and armored vehicles. Under the AGC requirement the Javelin weapon system will be provided to an infantry brigade and a reconnaissance brigade.

The Javelin Joint Venture along with British contractors will carry out the production work of the additional Javelin weapon systems in the United Kingdom, in the same way they are doing with first batch of Javelin weapon systems. Deliveries to the British Army of AGC man-portable Javelin are planned to begin in 2007. Since then, the Javelin would had achieved operational status with British light rapid reaction forces, mechanized units and heavy armored units.

The Javelin weapon system is currently in service with the US Army and US Marine Corps and could delivered to special operations forces in the near term. Integration onto ground and sea platforms is being evaluated. In addition to the United States, the United Kingdom and eight other nations have chosen Javelin as primary anti-tank, man-portable weapon system for their military forces.

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