A Javelin missile takes to the air
Javelin anti-tank missiles, the weapons that might give Ukraine a fighting chance in a war with Russia, are made in Alabama. From a report at al.com:
Photographs of weapons being used in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia put a spotlight on an Alabama manufacturer.
A tweet by Illia Ponomarenko, a defense reporter with the Kyiv Independent, showed a row of Javelin missiles, with the words stamped on the side:
Raytheon/Lockheed Martin
Javelin Joint Venture
Lockheed Martin
Troy, AL 36081
How effective are the Javelins? Ponomarekno provides a clue:
“I’m afraid we should expect to see hundreds of Russian tanks burning, ladies and gentlemen,” Ponomarenko tweeted.
What about the Alabama connection? Here are details:
The missiles are the product of Lockheed Martin’s Pike County Operations facility in Troy, where about 350 employees manufacture, assemble and test many of the missile programs supported by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, including the Javelin. Troy handles assembly.
Billed as “the world’s premier shoulder-fired anti-armor system,” Javelin is a lock-on-before launch shoulder-fired missile with automatic self guidance, which allows a gunner to take cover and reposition immediately after firing, to avoid counterfire. It can also be fired from inside buildings and bunkers, and employed against armored vehicles and buildings, among other targets.