The Javelin Joint Venture, an effort by Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Raytheon [RTN], recently demonstrated the capability to launch Javelin missiles from a vehicle in winter conditions at a test range in Norway.
In a Norwegian Ministry of Defence-sponsored live-fire demonstration in Rena, Norway, two Javelin missiles scored two direct hits when fired from a Piranha V vehicle configured with a Kongsberg Protector Remote Weapon Station (RWS) and the Javelin Vehicle Launcher (JVL) electronics. The two targets were located 800 and 1,650 meters from the launch vehicle.
“These firings will lead to further discussions with Norway, as they evaluate the potential of employing their Javelin missiles on their existing vehicles,” said Duane Gooden, Javelin Joint Venture president.
The RWS is a remote controlled weapon station for light and medium caliber weapons, and can be mounted on any type of platform. The JVL allows the standard Javelin missile round to interface with vehicle fire control systems. With the JVL, the U.S. Army and international customers are able to fire Javelin missiles from vehicle platforms with the gunner safely under armor.
“The live fire tests in Norway demonstrated that Javelin is capable of being deployed on vehicles with remote weapon stations and that the concept is mature and ready for implementation,” said Barry James, Javelin Joint Venture vice president and Javelin program director in Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control business.
Javelin has been tested on U.S. vehicles as well, Lockheed Martin’s International Business Development Manager Joe Elmer said in an interview. “It has been tested on the Stryker vehicle using the CROWS II RWS also made by Kongsberg. There were ten shots all resulting in direct hits on the target. Javelin is lightweight, effective and easy to integrate, so it’s natural that it would be a candidate for mounting on vehicles.”
Elmer pointed out that Javelin also provides expanded over-watch capability compared to the light caliber weapons typically integrated on Remote Weapon Stations. “For instance, light caliber weapons are marginally effective at ranges of 1,000-1,500 meters but Javelin provides precision engagement capability against hardened targets, to include main battle tanks, out to 2,500 meters and beyond. It also allows the gunner to remain under armor and therefore increases gunner survivability.”