Analysis: US Javelin anti-tank missile used in Ukraine becomes a nightmare for Russian tanks

According to information published on the Twitter account of Emine Dzheppa on March 18, 2022, the Ukrainian army has set a record for the effectiveness of the use of portable anti-tank systems Javelin. Of the 120 missiles fired by Ukrainian army soldiers, 100 missiles would have hit their targets.
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Ukraine soldier carrying a Javelin man-portable anti-tank guided missile. (Picture source Twitter account Jagged)

In January 2020, Army Recognition reported that the United States has approved the transfer of Javelin anti-tank and ground-to-air missiles to Ukraine from NATO allies including Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia. More recently, the United States has approved the delivery of 2,000 FGM-148 Javelin man-portable anti-tank guided missile weapon systems to Ukraine.

According to many pictures published on social networks, the Javelin has become a nightmare for Russian tanks and armored vehicles. In the Ukrainian conflict, the Javelin missile has shown its effectiveness in guerrilla warfare.

The delivery of Javelin's anti-tank missile to the Ukrainian army allowed the destruction of dozens of Russian tanks and armored vehicles. Thanks to its ease of use and its ability to penetrate modern armor, the Javelin has become a symbol of the struggle of the Ukrainian army. It can be operated by a crew of two or even a single soldier.

The FGM-148 Javelin is an American-made man-portable anti-tank guided missile and employable fire-and-forget medium-range missile system. The compact, lightweight Javelin is ideally suited for one-soldier operation in all environments.

The Javelin system consists of the CLU (Command Launch Unit) and the missile. The CLU, with a carry weight of 6.4kg, incorporates a passive target acquisition and fire control unit with an integrated day sight and a thermal imaging sight.

The Javelin missile has a maximum range of 2,500 m using fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance and can penetrate armor equivalent to 600 to 800 mm RHA (Rolled Homogeneous Armor). Another interesting feature of the Javelin missile, the operator can select a line-of-sight direct launch against a tank’s sides, or a top-down attack against the top of the vehicle, where the armor typically is thinner.