Javelin completes UK ground vehicle launch tests
The Javelin Joint Venture team - a partnership of Raytheon Company and Lockheed Martin - successfully demonstrated Javelin's ability to engage targets beyond its current 2.5 kilometre range requirement, during a series of ground vehicle launch tests.
Above:
A Javelin missile heading towards a target.
Copyright MoD / www.defenceimagery.mod.uk
The five tests were conducted for the British Army at the Salisbury Plain Training Area in Wiltshire, England.
During the UK Army-sponsored tests, the Javelin missiles were mounted on a Spartan armoured fighting vehicle and fired via the Kongsberg M151 Remote Weapon Station. Each missile flew between 1.2 and 4.3 kilometres, hitting the stationary ground target in each test.
"Javelin's effectiveness in this demonstration enables mounted infantry to confidently engage targets at ranges that surpass other weapons in this class," said John Halvey, Javelin Joint Venture president at Raytheon Missile Systems. "This range, coupled with vehicle integration, enhances overmatch for mounted infantry units."
The live-fire tests confirm Javelin's greater than 94% reliability rate and demonstrate Javelin's capability to engage targets from increased standoff distances on various platforms.
"These successful ground tests validate Javelin's long-range engagement capability," said Rich Benton, Javelin Joint Venture vice president and Javelin programme director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "These tests also reinforce Javelin's maturity and readiness for deployment from vehicles and other platforms."
Javelin is a compact, lightweight missile designed for one-soldier operations in all environments. It is made by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Raytheon Company and Lockheed Martin. Javelin has been adopted by international armed forces around the world. It is currently fielded with the US Army and US Marine Corps, and has also been approved for 15 foreign military sales customers.