According to information published by the United States Department of Defense on August 3, 2021, the U.S. State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Georgia of Javelin Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $30 million.
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U.S. Marines assigned to combined anti-armor team (CAAT), Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 3/2, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), fire a Javelin shoulder-fired anti-tank missile at Fort Pickett, (Picture source U.S. DoD)
The Government of Georgia has requested to buy eighty-two (82) Javelin FGM-148 Missiles; and forty-six (46) Javelin Command Launch Units (CLU). Also included are Enhanced Producibility Basic Skills Trainers; Missile Simulation Rounds; Security Assistance Management Directorate Technical Assistance; Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions Project Office Technical Assistance; other associated equipment and services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated total cost is $30 million.
The proposed sale will improve Georgia’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing its antiarmor capacity. Georgia will have no difficulty absorbing these weapons into its armed forces.
The prime contractors will be Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture of Orlando, Florida, and Tucson, Arizona. However, these articles are being provided from U.S. Army stock. There are no known offset agreements proposed in conjunction with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Georgia.
The FGM-148 Javelin is a man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank missile system jointly developed by the American companies Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. It is one of the most popular anti-tank weapon systems which is in service with Australia, Bahrain, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Georgia, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Libya, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.
The missile of the Javelin weapon system is fitted with a HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) tandem warhead able to destroy main battle tanks as well as buildings, fortifications, lightly armored, and unarmored vehicles. As a fire-and-forget missile, after launch, the missile has to be able to track and destroy its target without the gunner. This is done by coupling an on-board imaging IR system (different from the Command Launch Unit CLU imaging system) with an on-board tracking system. The missile has a maximum firing range of 2,500 m using the CLU and 4,500 m when the missile is launched from a weapon station mounted on a vehicle.
