US clears sale of Javelin antitank missiles to Ukraine.

The U.S. administration has cleared the sale of 150 FGM-148 Javelin antitank missiles and two additional missile launchers to Ukraine.

Soldiers from 1st Bn, 8th Inf Rgt, 3rd Armd Bde Combat Team, 4th Inf Div., fire FGM-148 Javelin, Eager Lion exercise, Jordan, Aug. 27, 2019 (Picture source: U.S. Army / Sgt. Liane Hatch)

The sale had been suspended last July amid accusations of corruption. The political obstacles having been lifted, the sale can now be implemented, even if supplying lethal military equipment to Ukraine remains under close scrutiny by the U.S. Congress.

The Javelin system was developed and is built by a joint venture formed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. 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 has been combat-proven initially in Afghanistan and Iraq by U.S. and allied soldiers, Marines and Special Forces.