The U.S. State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia involving FGM-148F Javelin missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $100 million. Under this proposal, Australia will purchase 350 FGM-148F Javelin missiles, including four for testing purposes. In addition to the missiles, the deal includes U.S. Government technical assistance, data support, repair and return services, as well as other logistical and program support. This sale aligns with the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. Australia is a key ally in the Western Pacific, with its strategic importance contributing significantly to regional peace and stability. The prime contractors for the deal are the Javelin Joint Venture, a collaboration between RTX Corporation based in Tucson, Arizona, and Lockheed Martin, located in Orlando, Florida.
The FGM-148 Javelin, officially designated the Advanced Anti-Tank Weapon System-Medium (AAWS-M), is an American-made, man-portable anti-tank system that has been in service since 1996. Continuously upgraded, the Javelin replaces the M47 Dragon missile in U.S. service. Its “fire-and-forget” design features infrared guidance, allowing the user to take cover immediately after launch, a significant advantage over wire-guided systems like the M47 Dragon. The Javelin’s warhead is equipped with a high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) system that can destroy modern tanks by attacking their top armor, the weakest part. It is also highly effective against fortified positions. To counter explosive reactive armor (ERA), the missile employs a tandem charge system, which first neutralizes the ERA and then penetrates the primary armor.
The system consists of three components: the Command Launch Unit (CLU), the Launch Tube Assembly (LTA), and the missile. The CLU serves as the targeting system and can be used independently as a portable thermal sight. Meanwhile, the LTA houses the missile and protects it from harsh environments. This modular design allows for quick and efficient attachment and detachment between the missile and the CLU. The Javelin’s HEAT warhead generates a high-speed stream of superheated metal, capable of penetrating even the most advanced armor systems. It uses a soft-launch mechanism to minimize the risk of injury to the operator, ejecting the missile from the launcher before igniting the flight motor.
As a fire-and-forget missile, the Javelin independently tracks and destroys its target without further assistance from the gunner. The gunner first uses the CLU’s infrared system to identify the target, then transfers control to the missile’s own infrared system, which locks onto the target for engagement. The system also offers the capability to destroy slow-moving or hovering rotary wing aircraft, or fortifications. Combat arms units employ the Javelin as a dismounted shoulder-fired weapon. The Javelin may also be fitted to vehicle platforms. Targets are engaged by locking on to their heat signature and, once fired, there is no further requirement to guide the missile. The Javelin’s time of flight is approximately 14 seconds for 2 kilometres.
Since its inception, the Javelin Weapon System has undergone numerous upgrades. The FGM-148F variant, which will be delivered to Australia, features a multi-purpose warhead and represents the “Spiral 2” development in the system’s evolution. The new model has an advanced multipurpose warhead that combines charges to defeat explosive-reactive armor, and it has a fragmenting steel case for striking unarmored and lightly armored targets. Its new command launch unit boasts a reduction in weight and an improved target tracker. The warhead now combines multiple effects into one. It multiplies fragmentation, as well as the standard high-explosive anti-tank charge. So now the war fighters are prepared for any mission, without having to switch out different rounds for different targets Production of this variant began in May 2020.
