Page 9 - ADT MAY-JUNE 2022 Online Magazine

"What the HIMARS will allow them to do is tems being sent to Ukraine doesn't necessarily match a specific
to get greater standoff. Right now, the how- type of target, such as Russian tanks, for instance. Instead, he
itzers we provided them have about a 30 km said, the Javelin, while designed for anti-armour use, is fairly ver-
range; the HIMARS have more than twice that, satile. "[The Javelin] can be used on other vehicles as well and
which will allow them — even with fewer sys- even fixed targets if need be," Kirby said. "And there have been
tems — greater standoff," said Colin H. Kahl, thousands of Javelins that we have provided to Ukraine and we
undersecretary of defence for policy, during a know they're using them. You can see the evidence for yourself [ COVER STORY ]
briefing at Pentagon in June. "These are preci- when you look at the videos and the images on TV of these burnt-
sion guided systems with extended range," he out tanks and burnt-out trucks and armored personnel carriers."
said. "For high value targets, that, that allows
them to keep some of the pressure off of The Javelin is a man-portable, fire-and-forget missile system that
Ukrainian forces on the front, [which] we think is highly lethal against objects ranging from main battle tanks to
these systems will be very useful." The U.S. will fleeting targets of opportunity found in threat environments. It has
provide training on the system to both Ukrainian proven devastatingly effective Russian armour operating in Ukraine.
users and maintainers. "These, of course, are The Javelin also provides defensive capability against attacking
systems that the Ukrainians need to be trained or hovering helicopters. While qualified to engage targets out to
on," he said. "We think that'll take around three ranges of 2,500m, the ATGMs have been known to destroy to
weeks. They need to know not just how to use targets as far as 4,000m away in operational conditions.
the systems, but, of course, how to maintain the
system — so, think of logistics, maintenance, In May, the Javelin Joint Venture (a partnership of Raytheon Missiles
things like that. So, it'll be a number of weeks & Defence and Lockheed Martin) for the ATGM announced the
until that training is complete." U.S. Army had recently awarded it with two production contracts
worth US$309 million for more than 1,300 Javelin missiles and
The current HIMARS is able to launch all associated equipment and services. These contracts were funded
Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Family
of munitions rockets and missiles. The HIMAR
can deliver a high-volume destructive, suppres-
sive and counter-battery fires and can achieve a
range of 70-plus km when firing GMLRS-Unitary
precision rockets. With its ability to engage tar-
gets at long ranges with low-collateral damage,
it is also able to deliver precision strikes on tar-
gets wherein friendly forces are within 200m of
the target. The HIMARS launcher is mounted on
a 5-tonne Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles
XM1140A1 truck chassis.

A single HIMARS carries one launch pod con-
taining either six Guided MLRS (GMLRS)/
MLRS rockets or one Army Tactical Missile
System (ATACMS) missile. Lockheed Martin
delivered the 50,000th GMLRS to the U.S.
Army in 2021. It received a contract worth
US$1.12 billion in March 2021 for production of from the recent Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act and
over 9,000 GMLRS Unitary and Alternative- included orders for several international customers including
Warhead (AW) rockets and more than 2,000 Norway, Albania, Latvia and Thailand. “The Javelin Joint Venture is
Low-Cost Reduced-Range Practice Rockets working hard to meet this increase in demand,” says Dave Pantano,
(RRPRs). Javelin Joint Venture vice president and Lockheed Martin Javelin
programme director. Marek Wolert, Javelin Joint Venture presi-
dent and program director at Raytheon Missiles & Defence said,
Javelin Strike “Raytheon is working proactively with our supply chain to ensure
In April, the U.S. also committed to supply addi- our readiness and ability to support this urgent need.”
tion Javelin anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM)
to Ukraine. "This $100 million is designed to Lockheed Martin is now investing to increase the missile production
help us meet an urgent Ukrainian need for addi- rate beyond the current 2,100 per year and Raytheon is doing the
tional Javelin anti-armour systems, which the same to maximize production of the reusable light-weight command
United States has been providing to Ukraine," launch unit. The Javelin Joint Venture has produced over 50,000
Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said. Javelin missiles and more than 12,000 reusable Command Launch
He added that the total number of Javelin sys- Units till date.

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY May/June 2022 | 9