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The State Department and Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has made a determination approving a possible foreign military sale to the government of Australia of Javelin missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of US$46 million.
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The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
The government of Australia has requested to buy 200 Javelin FGM-148E missiles with US government technical assistance and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated cost is not to exceed $46 million.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the US. Australia is one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the region.
The Australian Defence Force is seeking to fill a short-term shortfall in its Javelin missile inventory in order to maintain the appropriate level of readiness. Australia will not have any difficulty absorbing these missiles into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. These missiles will be provided from US Army stocks. There are no known offsets associated with this sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of US government or contractor representatives to Australia.
The sale will result in no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale. This notice of a potential sale is required by law. The description and dollar value is for the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements.
Actual dollar value will be lower depending on final requirements, budget authority, and signed sales agreement(s), if and when concluded.
Javelin is an anti-tank guided munition that can be carried and launched by a single person. It is made by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Raytheon Missiles & Defence and Lockheed Martin.
Javelin provides the US Army, US Marine Corps and numerous international customers, including the Australian Defence Force with a medium-range, "fire-and-forget" missile for use against a wide array of targets including armoured vehicles, bunkers and caves. The system’s Command Launch Unit, or sight, performs surveillance, allowing a gunner to see targets.
The weapon can be deployed from multiple platforms and used during the day, at night and in any kind of weather. The program has also demonstrated that Javelin can be fired from a remote launcher mounted on an unmanned ground vehicle.
Javelin has been used in Afghanistan and Iraq in more than 5,000 engagements. The system is scheduled to be in inventory until 2050.
The Javelin Weapon System has been introduced to the Australian Army to engage and destroy current and anticipated enemy armour at ranges beyond that achievable with previous shoulder-fired anti-armour systems.
The system also offers the capability to destroy slow-moving or hovering rotary-wing aircraft or fortifications. Combat arms units employ Javelin as a dismounted shoulder-fired weapon.
Javelin may be fitted to vehicle platforms. Targets are engaged by locking on to their heat signature and once fired; there is no further requirement to guide the missile. The Javelin’s time of flight is approximately 14 seconds for two kilometres.
