By presidential approval, the U.S. is sending $100 million in support for defense electronic systems, including Javelin anti-armor systems, to Ukraine. Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby explained, “This $100 million is designed to help us meet an urgent Ukrainian need for additional Javelin anti-armor systems, which the United States has been providing to Ukraine. They've been used very effectively to combat the Russian attack on the Ukrainian homeland.”
The Javelin shoulder-fired anti-armor weapon (see figure) was jointly developed by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies. The computer-assisted system has a range of 2,700 yards. A gunner places a cursor over an intended target and the launched projectile is automatically guided to the target, allowing a gunner to reload and/or reposition.
The Javelin system has been referred to as a “fire-and-forget” weapon. A projectile contains two explosive charges: The first explodes upon contact with the target., and the second follows immediately thereafter with a higher-power, armor-piercing blast.
Kirby spoke of the Javelin's versatility: They can be used against tanks but also armored personnel carriers and even fixed targets. “There have been thousands of Javelins that we have provided to Ukraine, and we know they're using them. You can see the evidence for yourself when you look at the videos and the images on TV of these burnt-out tanks and burnt-out trucks and armored personnel carriers.”
Kirby called this support the sixth drawdown of equipment from U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) inventories to Ukraine since August 2021. Part of the $100 million will include 100 Switchblade unmanned systems or drones.