The FGM-148 Javelin is a US-made man-portable fire-and-forget anti-tank missile.
It was fielded to replace the M47 Dragon.
In the mid 1970s the US Army adopted the M47 Dragon anti-tank guided missile.
It was a shoulder-fired weapon with a wire guidance.
This anti-tank missile had a reliable design and very good performance.
However by the late 1980s the M47 became out-dated.
Its effective range was limited to 1 000 m.
Also penetration power of the M47 was insufficient to defeat latest main battle tanks with heavy
armor.
So the US Army awarded a contract to develop a new anti-tank guided missile to replace
the M47 Dragon.
The Javelin was jointly designed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.
In 1991 the first test flight of the Javelin succeeded.
In 1994 first firing test was successful and missile hit the target at a range of 2 000
m.
In 1995 mass production of the FGM-148 Javelin began and in 1996 it was delivered to the
US Army and US Marine Corps.
The Javelin has been exported to about 20 countries including Australia, France and
United Kingdom.
It was widely used during the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In Iraq it destroyed several T-55, Type 69 and Asad Babil (T-72) tanks and military trucks.
In Afghanistan it was successfully used against Taliban bunkers and fortifications.
Currently the FGM-148 Javelin is one of the most advanced man-portable anti-tank guide
missile system in the world.
It can destroyed any current MBT.
It can also target low flying helicopters.
Only some existing anti-tank missiles, such as Israeli Spike can compare with the Javelin.
The Javelin is a man-portable fire-and-forget type weapon.
It is shoulder-fired but can also be installed on the tripod or tracked and wheeled armor
vehicles.
Currently the M3 Bradley cavalry fighting vehicle can use javelin instead the TOW missiles.
There are two modes of attack: top attack and direct attack.
The top-attack flight mode is used to engage tanks and other armored vehicles.
After the launch the missile climbs upward and then dives towards the target.
This method is very suitable to destroy MBTs, because most of them have only a minimum level
of armor protection in the upper part of the turret.
In direct attack mode the missile flies directly to the target.
This mode is used to engage buildings, bunkers, weapon crews and concentrations of enemy troops.
In the direct attack mode the Javelin can also engage low-flying helicopters.
The missile is equipped with imaging infra red seeker.
The missile has an 8.4 kg tandem shaped charge warhead.
A precursor warhead detonates any explosive reactive armor and the primary warhead penetrates
the base armor.
The Javelin is capable of destroying any existing MBT in the world.
The Javelin missile has a soft launch capability.
In the first stage of the launch the missile is thrown forward about 20 meters via a small
compressed gas cylinder which is located at the back of the missile.
When the missile thrown away from the operator, the main engine turns on.
This feature make it a very suitable for use in urban environment and closed areas, such
as buildings, without any risk for the gunner.
Maximum firing range of the Javelin is 2 500 m.
Recently the manufacturer developed a version of the Javelin with a range of 4 750 m.
Specifications: Weight: 22.3 kg (carry weight)
Detachable Command Launch Unit: 6.4 kg
Length Missile: 1.1 m Length Launch tube: 1.2 m
Diameter Missile: 127 mm Diameter Launch tube: 142 mm
Crew: 2
Effective firing range: original: 2,500 m
current: 4,750 m
Warhead: Tandem shaped charge HEAT
Penetration 600-800 mm RHA
Warhead weight: 8.4 kg Detonation mechanism: Impact force
Engine: Solid fuel rocket Guidance system: infrared homing
Produced: 1996–present No. built: 40,000
Unit cost: US$246,000
Wars: Iraq War
War in Afghanistan Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2014)
Operation Iraqi Freedom / Operation New Dawn (20 March 2003 – 15 December 2011)
Syrian Civil War