The US State Department has approved a possible $780-million sale of Javelin anti-tank missile systems to Poland.
Poland has requested the purchase of 2,506 FGM-148F Javelin missiles along with 253 Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units.
The potential sale includes missile simulation rounds, battery coolant units, tool kits, spares support, and training.
It is expected to bolster Poland’s territorial defense capabilities and support its efforts to meet NATO requirements.
“The proposed sale will improve Poland’s capability to meet current and future threats by upgrading its existing legacy Command Launch Units and increasing its defense inventory, thereby reinforcing its capability to protect Polish sovereign territory and improving its ability to meet NATO requirements,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated.
The principal contractors for the sale are RTX Corporation and Lockheed Martin, with any offset agreement to be determined during negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
Javelin Anti-Tank Weapon
The FGM-148 Javelin is an advanced man-portable guided missile system designed to defeat heavily armored targets such as main battle tanks.
It employs automatic infrared guidance, enabling operators to take cover immediately after launch, unlike wire-guided systems that require continuous operator control.
The missile can engage targets from 65 meters (213 feet) to 4 kilometers (2.48 miles) under most conditions, with its top-attack mode designed to strike the vehicle’s most vulnerable area.
The Javelin Lightweight is 30 percent smaller and 25 percent lighter than the current Block I Command Launch Unit, offering twice the target detection and recognition capability.
Its reduced weight enhances transportability, and redesigned ergonomic hand grips improve comfort for soldiers in the field.
