Javelin Missiles
Why it Matters?
India has requested U.S. approval to co-produce Javelin anti-tank guided missiles domestically under the Make in India initiative to boost self-reliance and counter threats from China and Pakistan.
What You Should Know?
The Javelin is a man-portable, anti-tank guided missile system.
It is a “fire-and-forget” missile.
It is developed jointly by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin in the United States.
It is designed to destroy heavily armoured targets such as main battle tanks as well as lightly armoured vehicles.
The missile is also capable of engaging other targets, including fortifications, bunkers, and low-flying helicopters.
It has an effective range of up to 2.5 km, making it suitable for both close combat and standoff engagements.
It uses infrared imaging for automatic target guidance, allowing the operator to take cover immediately after firing.
The missile features lock-on before launch (LOBL) technology and has automatic self-guidance to the target.
Its High-Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead is designed to defeat modern armoured vehicles through a top-attack profile, striking where tank armour is weakest.
Its portability and low crew requirement make it ideal for difficult terrains such as mountains and urban warfare.