The Javelin Joint Venture (JJV), a partnership between Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, and Lockheed Martin, has delivered the first Lightweight Command Launch Units (LWCLU) to the U.S. Army. The LWCLU, a next-generation launcher for the Javelin® weapon system, is designed to be adaptable and compatible with all current, past and future Javelin variants. The launcher is replacing the weapon system’s legacy command launch unit. To date, Raytheon has invested $22 million to modernize the LWCLU factory to increase speed of production and expand capacity. In collaboration with the U.S. Army, the facility in Tucson, Ariz., is ramping annual production. Javelin is developed and produced by the JJV between Raytheon in Tucson, Arizona and Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Florida.
“Delivering the first LWCLUs to the U.S. Army reflects the Javelin Joint Venture’s commitment to continuously advancing technology for service members,” said Jenna Hunt Frazier, JJV president and Javelin program director at Raytheon. “Our investments in modernization and production capacity ensures soldiers receive this cutting-edge capability faster.”
“The production and delivery of the LWCLU marks a pivotal step in modernizing the Javelin system for today’s warfighter,” said Rich Liccion, JJV vice president and Lockheed Martin Javelin program director. “Its innovative design enhances mobility and survivability while preserving the precision firepower that users rely on.”
The Javelin LWCLU provides soldiers with twice the target detection and recognition range while reducing size by 30% and weight by 25%. The LWCLU maximizes surveillance for soldiers, offering day and night engagement capability. The FGM-148 Javelin is an American-made man-portable anti-tank system in service since 1996 and continuously upgraded. Its fire-and-forget design features automatic infrared guidance, allowing the user to seek cover immediately after launch, which require a user to guide the weapon throughout the engagement. The Javelin’s 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 useful against fortifications in a direct attack flight. The Javelin uses a tandem charge warhead to circumvent an enemy tank’s explosive reactive armor (ERA), which would normally render HEAT warheads ineffective.
Raytheon, an RTX business, is a leading provider of defense solutions to help the U.S. government, allies and partners defend their national sovereignty and ensure their security. For more than 100 years, Raytheon has developed new technologies and enhanced existing capabilities in integrated air and missile defense, smart weapons, missiles, advanced sensors and radars, interceptors, space-based systems, hypersonics and missile defense across land, air, sea and space. With industry-leading capabilities, the company advance aviation, engineer integrated defense systems for operational success, and develop next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2025 sales of more than $88 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
