Ukraine wants to buy more FGM-148 Javelin antitank missiles.

Ukraine has required the United States to sell more FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile systems, said William Taylor, chargé d'affaires of the U.S. embassy in Ukraine, in his interview with Radio Liberty Ukrainian service published on Monday, 6 August.

FGM-148 Javelin fired at Fort Campbell, January 30, 2019 (Picture source: U.S. Army)

"They would like to buy more Javelins," said the U.S. diplomat, specifying that the purchase would be done for defensive purpose through the U.S. Defense Department's Foreign Military Sales program. Taylor's comment is the confirmation of Ukraine's desire to go forward with the purchase of the missile system after 37 Javelin launchers and 210 missiles were purchased from the United States in April 2018.

So far, Washington has provided Ukraine with about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars of military aid since 2014. In June 2019, the Defense Department announced that it would provide 250 million USD for Ukraine to acquire sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, counter-artillery radar, and night-vision equipment, among other items.

The Javelin was developed and is built by a joint venture formed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. The FGM-148 Javelin is a man-portable anti-tank guided missile and employable fire-and-forget, medium-range missile system. The Javelin has been combat-proven namely in Afghanistan and Iraq by U.S. and allied soldiers, Marines and Special Forces. Eleven countries have selected Javelin to meet anti-armor requirements. The Javelin has secondary capabilities against helicopters and ground-fighting positions. Its direct-attack capability will engage targets with overhead cover or in bunkers. Its "soft launch" allows employment from within buildings and enclosed fighting positions. The soft launch signature limits the gunner's exposure to the enemy, thus increasing survivability. In June 2019, American Company Oshkosh Defense, along with several industry partners, participated in a successful Javelin anti-tank missile flight test from a Kongsberg remote weapon station on a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) at the Redstone Test Center in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.