The Legendary Javelin Is Set To Get A New Lease On Life
- 11.08.2026, 7:52
The U.S. is urgently replenishing its stockpiles.
The American company Kratos Defense has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Army to develop a new-generation infrared seeker for the FGM-148 Javelin. The upgrade is intended to ensure the continued production and operation of this popular weapon, whose stockpiles have been significantly depleted following its transfer to Ukraine.
This was reported by the "Military" portal.
The new system is intended to replace the outdated microelectronic architecture used in current versions of the system and ensure continued mass production of the missiles.
Kratos’s main task is to replace the Javelin’s outdated technology base and make the system’s production more stable in the future.
This is not simply a matter of increasing the range or installing a more powerful sensor, but of creating a modern component that will allow the U.S. Army to continue using the system, which has been in service since 1996.
Kratos will develop and manufacture the new seeker head at its Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center in Birmingham, Alabama.
Once development is complete, the component—ready for mass production—must undergo testing by the U.S. Army.
At the same time, overall responsibility for the system’s development, production, and technical support will remain with the Lockheed Martin–RTX joint venture.
Thus, the contract with Kratos changes the supply structure for individual Javelin components but does not transfer the full production cycle of the system to the company.
How the Javelin Differs from Older Systems
The Javelin operates on a “fire-and-forget” principle: after detecting a target, the operator uses the Control and Launch Unit (CLU) to lock onto the target, after which the missile autonomously tracks the target using an infrared thermal imaging seeker.
Once launched, the operator does not need to track the missile until it hits the target, allowing the crew to immediately change position, reload the system, or take cover.
The U.S. is replenishing its stockpiles after providing aid to Ukraine
The Javelin modernization is taking place against the backdrop of a reduction in U.S. stockpiles due to large-scale deliveries to Ukraine.
According to the data cited, by January 2025, Ukraine had received more than 10,000 Javelin missiles, while U.S. pre-war stockpiles were estimated at approximately 20,000–25,000 units.
Following this, the U.S. Army began replenishing its stockpiles and expanding production capacity.
Lockheed Martin plans to increase annual missile production from approximately 2,100 to 3,960 units by the end of 2026—an increase of nearly 89%.