A new shipment of United States-manufactured Javelin medium-range anti-tank weapon system has been handed over to the Lithuanian Armed Forces earlier this week. It will be assigned to Lithuanian Land Force units thus strengthening capability of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. The FGM-148 Javelin high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead can defeat modern tanks by top-down attack, hitting them from above, where their armor is thinnest, and is also useful against fortifications in a direct attack flight. The batch worth amounts to approx. USD 16.6 million. Such replenishment of the Lithuanian Armed Forces stocks with the Javelin system has been particularly spot-on since the geopolitical situation was direly complicated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“We are happy with this delivery of Javelin missiles and welcome Lithuania’s ongoing investments in its combat capabilities,” says Ambassador of the United States to Lithuania HE Kara C. McDonald.
“The United States of America is Lithuania’s strategic partner and one of the key Allies for the Baltic regional security. Beyond doubt, the Javelin anti-tank system the United States has made available for Lithuania to acquire is a boost to the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ combat capacity and deterrent effect,” says Minister of National Defence Laurynas Kasciunas.
The Government of Lithuania has requested to buy an additional two hundred thirty (230) Javelin FGM-148F missiles and twenty (20) Javelin Command Launch Units (CLUs), that will be added to a previously implemented case that was under threshold. The original FMS case, valued at $28.23 million, included one hundred eleven (111) Javelin FGM-148F missiles and ten (10) Javelin CLUs. Therefore, this notification is for a total of three hundred forty-one (341) Javelin FGM-148F missiles and thirty (30) Javelin CLUs. Also included are battery chargers; Enhanced Producibility Basic Skills Trainer (EPBST); other related elements of logistics and program support.
The United States is one of Lithuania’s principal partners in defence acquisitions which, besides the Javelin, include the Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, Black Hawk helicopters, HIMARS High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, AMRAAM Advanced Medium Range Air-Air Missiles for the NASAMS medium-range ground-based air defense system, Switchblade loitering munition, etc. Over 20% of the new defence purchases in the Lithuanian Armed Forces were contracted with the United States.
