Javelin gets major upgrade: Why it matters
Photo: A Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier with a Javelin anti-tank missile system (Getty Images)
The American company Kratos Defense has been awarded a US Army contract to develop a new-generation infrared seeker for the FGM-148 Javelin. The upgrade is intended to extend the production and service life of this popular weapon, whose stockpiles have been significantly reduced following the transfer of the weapons to Ukraine, according to Militarnyi.
The new system is intended to replace the outdated microelectronic architecture used in current versions of the system and ensure continued mass production of the missiles.
Kratos's main objective is to replace the Javelin's outdated technological base and make the system's production more stable in the future.
This is not simply a matter of increasing the range or installing a more powerful sensor, but rather of creating a modern component that will allow the US Army to continue using the system, which has been in service since 1996.
Kratos will develop and manufacture the new guidance head at its Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center in Birmingham, Alabama.
Upon completion, the component, ready for mass production, must undergo testing by the US Army.
At the same time, overall responsibility for the development, production, and technical support of the system will remain with the Lockheed Martin–RTX joint venture.
Thus, the contract with Kratos changes the structure of the supply of individual Javelin components but does not transfer the full production cycle of the system to the company.
How Javelin differs from older systems
The Javelin operates on a fire-and-forget principle: after detecting a target, the operator uses the Control and Launch Unit (CLU) to lock onto the target, after which the missile autonomously tracks the target using an infrared thermal imaging seeker.
Once launched, the operator does not need to track the missile until impact, allowing the crew to immediately change position, reload the system, or take cover.
US restoring stockpiles after providing aid to Ukraine
The Javelin modernization is taking place against the backdrop of a reduction in US stockpiles due to large-scale deliveries to Ukraine.
According to the data cited, by January 2025, Ukraine had received more than 10,000 Javelin missiles, while US pre-war stockpiles were estimated at approximately 20,000–25,000 units.
Following this, the US Army began replenishing its stockpiles and expanding its production capacity.
Lockheed Martin plans to increase annual missile production from approximately 2,100 to 3,960 units by the end of 2026—an increase of nearly 89%.
More important news about weapons
The Ukrainian National Guard has received its first Tisa armored vehicles for radiological and chemical reconnaissance, which will replace the outdated Soviet UAZ-469RKhB vehicles. The new system allows for reconnaissance of hazardous areas without the need to leave the protected vehicle.
Additionally, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) recently reported that Ukraine was developing a new system for maritime drones, which will enable both the destruction of Russian targets and the interception of sanctioned vessels in the Black Sea, followed by their escort to port for confiscation.
