Eurosatory 2022: Lockheed Martin outlines the road ahead for Javelin

FGM-148F launch tube assemblies on the production line. (Javelin Joint Venture)

Lockheed Martin representatives outlined the road map for the Javelin anti-armour weapon system at Eurosatory 2022 defence exhibition in Paris.

Speaking to Janes , company representatives confirmed that missile production had completely switched over to the FGM-148F model, which was developed under the Spiral 2 missile improvement programme. Any new customers, or follow-on orders from existing customers, would now be receiving this missile model.

Produced by the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV), which consists of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Missiles & Defense, the system entered service with the United States in 1996 and has received a number of updates since then, with further updates planned in the next few years.

The F-model is an evolution of the FGM-148E (Spiral 1), which was introduced in 2006 and saw its final improvement made in 2017 with the replacement of the missile's analog control and actuation system (CAS) with a single digital card. The F-model brought a new multi-purpose warhead (MPWH) to increase lethality against lightly armoured targets and personnel.

The MPWH consists of the legacy tandem high explosive anti-tank charges (precursor warhead and main charge), coupled with a naturally fragmenting sleeve. Initial trials of the FGM-148F began in 2016 and the missile was qualified in 2018, the production of the first lot of 511 missiles was completed in 2019. In combination with a Block 1 Command Launch Unit (CLU), designated as the M98A2 in the US service, the FGM-148E and FGM-148F are expected to be capable of engaging targets out to 4 km under most operating conditions. This is an increase from the 2.5 km originally specified for the earlier Block 0 series of the system.