The US Army has executed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) paving the way for the sale of the Javelin anti-tank weapon system to the Jordanian military, the Raytheon-Lockheed Martin Javelin joint venture announced Friday, January 11, in a press release.
Jordan thus became the first Middle East customer for Javelin on December 26 when representatives of the US Army and Jordan signed the LOA at a ceremony in Amman. It is expected to lead to a $12 million contract for the joint venture and may pave the way for additional Javelin foreign military sales in the region. The sale to Jordan includes the purchase of more than 110 missiles and 30 Command Launch Units (CLU), training devices, logistics support, associated equipment and training.
Another LOA, recently signed with the government of Lithuania, represents the first European sale of Javelin. It is expected to result in an award to the joint venture of $10 million. The Lithuanian sale includes more than 75 missiles and 18 command launch units, training devices, logistics support, associated equipment and training.
"Javelin ensures the Lithuanian and Jordanian armed forces have the world's best light infantry anti-tank weapon suitable for worldwide employment, with highest soldier survivability and system lethality, at the lowest support and life cycle cost," said John Weinzettle, US Army Close Combat Missile Systems (CCMS) project manager.
"Javelin's multi-mission capabilities give infantry soldiers the means to engage alternate targets, such as field fortifications, buildings and helicopters. Javelin also provides interoperability with US and other forces in times of crisis," he said.
"We are extremely pleased to introduce Javelin to the international defense community," stated Javelin Joint Venture President Mike Crisp. "Javelin's missile seeker and tracker, proven in both demanding test and field conditions in well over 600 shots, has more than a 90 percent first- time gunner success rate. The lightweight Javelin anti-armor weapon system can be quickly deployed wherever needed and immediately available to engage the enemy."
"Javelin's infrared seeker is resistant to countermeasures and battlefield obscurants, which is critical in combat," said Howard Weaver, Javelin Joint Venture vice president. "Javelin is also safe to fire from enclosures and it can be fired three times in less than 90 seconds."
Raytheon Company, which leads the Joint Venture, provides system engineering management and support for the Javelin Joint Venture and produces the CLU, missile guidance electronic unit and system software. Work is performed primarily at its Missile Systems business unit in Tucson, Arizona, and at other Raytheon facilities in Texas, Massachusetts and California.
Lockheed Martin provides missile engineering and production support for the Javelin Joint Venture in Orlando, Florida, produces the missile seeker in Ocala, Florida, and performs missile all-up-round assembly in Troy, Alabama.
The Javelin medium-range, anti-tank missile system is the world's first one-man transportable and employable fire-and-forget anti-armor missile system. Javelin is approved for international sales through the US Army's Foreign Military Sales system and is available to meet national requirements for next-generation anti-armor weapon systems.
With headquarters in Lexington, Massachusetts, Raytheon Company is an international technology company dealing in defense, government and commercial electronics, and business and special mission aircraft.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise principally engaged in research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The corporation's core businesses are systems integration, space aeronautics and technology services. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
