The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of FGM-148F Javelin Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $100 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
The Government of Australia has requested to buy three hundred fifty (350) Javelin FGM-148F missiles (includes four (4) fly-to-buy missiles). Also included is U.S. Government technical assistance; technical data; repair and return services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $100 million.
The Asia-Pacific region, particularly the Indo-Pacific, has been the focal point of significant geopolitical shifts in recent years. The rise of China as a regional and global power has led to increased military investments and strategic recalibrations by neighboring countries and global powers alike. In this context, Australia’s acquisition of Javelin missiles represents a proactive step in ensuring that its defense forces are adequately equipped to respond to a range of potential threats, including those posed by state and non-state actors.
The FGM-148 Javelin is a highly advanced, man-portable missile system renowned for its effectiveness in anti-tank and anti-armor missions. One of its most significant features is its fire-and-forget technology, which allows the operator to lock onto a target before firing and then immediately take cover or move to a new position, as the missile autonomously guides itself to the target using its infrared seeker. The Javelin is equipped with a dual-mode seeker that includes an infrared sensor, enabling it to track and engage both stationary and moving targets in various environmental conditions, including day and night operations, and through adverse weather.
The missile can be deployed in two attack modes. In top-attack mode, the Javelin is designed to hit armored vehicles at their most vulnerable point, the top of the turret, by arcing high above the target and then descending sharply. In direct-attack mode, the missile flies directly to the target, making it suitable for engaging targets with low overhead clearance, such as bunkers or buildings. This versatility makes the Javelin highly effective against a wide range of targets, including tanks, fortifications, bunkers, and light vehicles, making it a valuable asset on the battlefield.
The Javelin is also notable for its portability, allowing a single soldier to carry and operate it, which is crucial for flexible deployment in various combat scenarios, including infantry support, ambushes, and defensive operations. With a maximum effective range of approximately 2.5 kilometers, the Javelin’s fire-and-forget guidance system ensures high accuracy, even at long distances. The missile is equipped with a tandem-charge high-explosive anti-tank warhead, specifically designed to defeat modern tanks equipped with explosive reactive armor. The soft launch mechanism of the Javelin reduces the missile’s backblast, allowing it to be fired from enclosed spaces, such as buildings or bunkers, providing greater flexibility in urban combat environments. These capabilities make the Javelin a formidable tool for modern infantry forces, offering powerful means to engage a variety of armored threats in diverse operational scenarios.
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