.S. Increases Order for Combat-Tested Javelin Missile

Raytheon Co, TUCSON: On the heels of a $119 million contract from the U.S. Army in May, the Raytheon-Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture (JV) received a $110 million modification to a firm-fixed-price contract for Javelin Anti-tank Weapon System production.  
 
The contract is for an additional 901 command launch units and 101 trainer systems. Work will be performed in Orlando, Fla., and Tucson, Ariz., and will be completed by September 2008. Javelin is currently in full-rate production.  
 
Javelin is in service with the U.S. Army and Marine Corps and has been deployed by the U.S. and Australia in Operation Iraqi Freedom, where more than 1,000 rounds have been fired successfully against tanks and alternate targets. Coalition forces are also effectively employing the CLU (Command Launch Unit) in surveillance and anti-IED (Improvised Explosive Device) operations.  
 
“In Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, Javelin has been used successfully for surveillance, as an assault weapon, against buildings, against vehicles (including armor and pick-up trucks) and against fighting positions,” said Col. Lloyd McDaniels, U.S. Army Close Combat Weapon Systems project manager.  
 
In addition to its use by infantry and special forces, Javelin is currently being evaluated for integration onto ground and naval platforms. The Javelin JV is also working on a number of technology spirals in support of future requirements.  
 
“Our customer has told us that Javelin is its weapon of choice because of its impact on the battlefield. This was evident in the taking of Baghdad Airport and also in the Battle of Debecka Pass, where Javelin neutralized threat armor, saving soldiers' lives,” said Mike Crisp, president of the Javelin JV.  
 
“We know that warfighters depend on their weapon systems to perform when they need them,” added Howard Weaver, Javelin JV vice president. “Two young Marines who used Javelin in the retaking of Fallujah have attested first-hand to its effectiveness as an urban assault weapon.”  
 
Raytheon Company, with 2004 sales of $20.2 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people worldwide.  
 
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services.