FGM-148 Javelin

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A soldier practices with the Javelin on a firing range.

The FGM-148 Javelin is an American man-portable anti-tank guided missile.

[edit] Overview

Javelin is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance. The system takes a top-attack flight profile against armored vehicles (attacking the top armor which is generally thinner) but can also take a direct-attack mode for use against buildings or fortifications. This missile also has the ability to engage helicopters in the direct attack mode. ^[1] The missile reaches a peak altitude of 150m in top attack mode and 50m in direct fire mode. The missile is equipped with an imaging infrared seeker. The tandem warhead is fitted with two shaped charges, a precursor warhead to detonate any explosive reactive armor and a primary warhead to penetrate base armor. Javelin was used in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, with devastating effects on Iraqi T-72s and Type 69 tanks.

The missile is ejected from the launcher so that it reaches a safe distance from the operator before the main rocket motors ignite; a "soft launch arrangement." This makes it harder to identify the launcher and allows it to be fired from within buildings, however back-blast from the launch tube still poses a hazard to nearby personnel. Thanks to this "fire and forget" system, the firing team may displace as soon as the missile has been launched.

The missile system is carried most often by a two man team. The team consists of a gunner and an ammo bearer. During the firing of the missile the gunner aims the system while the ammo bearer pulls security, watching for threats. The ammo bearer helps to spot enemy vehicles, troops, and positions to target while the gunner is scanning another area.

[edit] Components

[edit] Launch Tube Assembly

Both men carry a tube called the Launch Tube Assembly which houses the missile and protects the missile from harsh environments. The tube also has built in electronics and a locking hinge system that makes attachment and detachment of the missile to and from the Command Launch Unit a very quick and simple process.

[edit] Command Launch Unit

The gunner carries a Command Launch Unit (in addition to the Launch Tube Assembly) more commonly referred to as a CLU (pronounced clue.) The CLU is the targeting component of the two part system. The CLU has three views which are used to find, target, and fire the missile. The CLU may also be used separately from the missile as a portable thermal sight. Infantry are no longer required to stay in constant contact with armored personal carriers and tanks with thermal sights. This makes the troops more flexible and able to perceive threats they would not otherwise be able to detect.

[edit] Day View

The first view is a 4x magnification day view. It is mainly used to scan areas for light during night operation because light is not visible in the thermal views. It is also used to scan during times following the sunrise and sunset when the thermal image is hard to focus due to the natural rapid heating and/or cooling of the earth.

[edit] Thermal View 1

The second view is the 4x magnification night view, and shows the gunner a thermal representation of the area viewed. This is also the primary view used due to its ability to detect infrared radiation and find both troops and vehicles otherwise too well hidden to detect. The screen shows a green scale view which can be adjusted in both contrast and brightness. The inside of the CLU is cooled by a small refrigeration unit attached to the sight. This greatly increases the sensitivity of the thermal imaging capability since the temperature inside the sight is much lower than that of the objects it detects. Due to the sensitivity this causes, the gunner is able to "focus" the CLU to show a very detailed image of the area being viewed by showing temperature differences of only a few degrees. The gunner operates this view with the use of two hand stations similar to the control stick found in modern cockpits. It is from this view that the gunner focuses the image and determines the area that gives the best heat signature on which to lock the missile.

[edit] Thermal View 2

Once the best target area is chosen the gunner uses presses one of the two triggers and automatically is sent to the third view. The third view is a 9x magnification thermal view. This process is similar to the automatic zoom feature on most modern cameras. This view is also available along with the previously mentioned views, all of which may be accessed with press of a button. It is not as popular however, because a high magnification view takes longer to scan a wide area. This view allows the gunner to further aim the missile and set the guidance system housed inside the actual missile. During this view is when information is passed from the CLU, through the connection electronics of the Launch Tube Assembly, and into the missile’s guidance system. If the gunner feels uncomfortable with firing the missile, he can still cycle back to the other views without having to fire the missile. When the gunner is comfortable with the target picture he pulls the second trigger and establishes a "lock”. The missile launches after a short hesitation.

[edit] Training

A great familiarity of each control and swift operation needs to achieved before the unit can be deployed efficiently. American troops are trained on the system at the Infantry Headquarters in Fort Benning, Georgia, for two weeks. The soldiers are taught basic care and maintenance, operation and abilities, assembly and disassembly, and the positions it can be fired from. Soldiers are also taught to distinguish between a variety of vehicle types even when only a rough outline is visible. The soldiers must accomplish several timed drills with set standards before being qualified to operate the system in both training and wartime situations The training ends with a 12 mile march while wearing all combat gear and carrying the Launch Tube Assembly and CLU. The soldier must finish the march within 3 hours. There are also smaller training programs set up on most Army bases that instruct soldiers on the proper use of the system. At theses courses the training program might be changed in small ways. This is most commonly only minor requirements left out due to budget, the amount of soldiers vs. simulation equipment, and available time and resources. Both types of training courses have required proficiency levels that must be met before the soldier can operate the system in training exercises or wartime missions.

[edit] Negative vs. Positive

[edit] Negative

The main drawback of the system is its 49.5 lb total weight. This does not account for the additional batteries (BA5590 lithium battery) which weigh around 5 lbs each. Each battery is estimated to last 4 hours by the Javelin's manufacturer. A normal load for batteries (not counting the "just in case" extras that most teams carry) is 5-10. This number may be more or less depending on the length of mission. The system is designed to be portable by infantry on foot and weighs more than the original specified weight the army called for. The weight of the system and a normal combat load make the Javelin team the most burdened American basic infantry currently deployed. The other two man infantry team which compares to this, is the M240B machine gun team.

Another drawback of the system is the reliance on a thermal view to acquire targets. The thermal views are not able to operate until the refrigeration component has cooled the system. The manufacturer estimates 30 seconds until this is complete, but depending on the ambient temperature, this process may take much longer. The thermal views are also occasionally hindered by a naturally occurring phenomena where the temperature of the earth heats or cools rapidly, and may interfere with the recognition and lock-on of the intended target.

The range of the Javelin is also a negative. With a current maximum range of only 2,500 m, it falls short of the other mainstay of anti-tank weaponry, the BGM-71 TOW. The TOW is much larger and has a maximum range of 3,000 m for the BGM-71A, and 3,750 m for all others (BGM-71B through BGM-71F.)

[edit] Positive

Amazingly enough most of the negatives previously discussed are also most of the positives.

The portable system is easy to separate into main components and easy to set-up when needed. When you compare this anti-tank weapon system to others the difference is quickly noticed. The large and highly effective missiles all need a heavy tripod stand, a bulky protective case for the thermal sight, a larger longer Launch Tube, and require much more time to assemble and prepare. The Javelin (although very heavy) is lighter than other missiles and all the parts needed to accurately fire them.

Another negative are the CLU’s thermal aspects. These are really a very big positive for the system as well. The thermal targeting ability allows this missile system to be a fire-and-forget system. This gives the firer an opportunity to be out of sight and possibly moving to a new angle to fire from, or out of the area by the time the enemy realizes they are under attack. This is much safer than using a wire-guided system because the firer must stay at the same location the missile was fired from and “fly” the missile into the target.

Another positive is the Javelin’s power at impact. The missile has a [[tandem shaped-charge]] in its warhead that is made to penetrate reactive armor. The Javelin was created with the intent to be able to penetrate any tank armor and was tested on theM1 Abrams Tank. With the top attack mode it has an even greater ability to destroy the tank because it can attack where most tanks are the weakest.

The soft-launch capability of the Javelin allows it have only a minimal back-blast area. This enables the Javelin to be fired from inside a wide variety of structures and was an almost unheard of ability in the early to mid 1990’s. One of the most widespread anti-tank weapons of the world is the AT4, which has a very large back-blast area. This would seriously injure most personnel if fired from inside a small structure.

[edit] Current News

The missile is currently under consideration to be used on the American M2 Bradley and M3 Bradley. This system, however, has a shorter range (due to its smaller size) than the wire-guided BGM-71 TOW, the standard for the Bradley.

The Javelin is supplied by Raytheon/Lockheed Martin's JAVELIN Joint Venture. Over 20,000 missiles and 3,000 CLUs have been produced.

[edit] Characteristics

A New Zealand Javelin detachment during a training exercise. The soldier on the left is aiming a Command Launch Unit while the soldier in the center stands by with a second missile.

• Primary Function: Man-portable anti-tank guided missile.
• Contractor: Lockheed Martin, Raytheon.
• Power Plant: solid fuel rocket.

• Length:
  • 1.1 m (42.6 in) missile.
  • 1.2 m (47.2 in) launch tube.
• Diameter:
  • 127 mm (5.0 in) missile.
  • 142 mm (5.6 in) launch tube.
• Weight:
  • 11.8 kg (26.0 lb) missile.
  • 6.4 kg (14.1 lb) CLU.
• Warhead:
  • 8.4 kg (18.5 lb) tandem shaped charge HEAT.
  • Armour penetration >600 mm RHA.
• Range: <75 to >2500 m
• Guidance system: Imaging infra-red guidance, fire and forget.
• Command Launch Unit:
  • Passive target acquisition/fire control with integrated day/thermal sight.
  • Magnification 4x day and 4x or 9x thermal.

[edit] Comparable systems

• Spike-MR/LR missile Israeli missile
• 9M133 Kornet Russian missile

[edit] Operators

•  Australia - 92 launchers

•  Bahrain - 13 launchers^[2]

•  Canada has decided to buy Javelin rocket launchers for its military.

•  Czech Republic has bought 3 launchers (and 12 missiles) for its special forces (intended for Afghanistan mission) ^[3].

•  Jordan - 30 launchers

•  Lithuania - 30 launchers

•  New Zealand - 24 launchers

•  Norway - 90 launchers and 526 missiles, delivery from 2006

•  Ireland - 60 launchers

•  Republic of China - 40 launchers
  • In a 2002 contract, Taiwan bought 360 Javelin missiles and 40 launcher units for $39 million. The contract also included training devices, logistics support, associated equipment and training.^[4] This works out at about $100,000 per missile.

•  United Kingdom
  • In January 2003, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that it had decided to procure Javelin for the Light Forces Anti-Tank Guided Weapon System (LFATGWS) requirement. It entered UK service in 2005 replacing the MILAN and Swingfire systems.^[5][6]

•  United States

•  Netherlands

[edit] Notes

[edit] See also

Military of the United States Portal

• Anti-tank guided missile
• List of missiles
• United States Army Aviation and Missile Command
• M47 Dragon

[edit] External links

• Lockheed Martin
• Designation Systems
• FAS article on Javelin
• A video of a Javelin test firing. The "soft-launch" and top-attack profile are clearly shown. From LiveLeak.com. [1]