From Factory Floor to the Battlefield: Javelin Demand Drives

Across the globe, warfighters worldwide have come to rely on Javelin's unrivaled precision and lethality. In an effort to meet increased global demand, the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV) has nearly doubled its All-Up-Round (AUR) production capacity over the last two years, successfully ramping to meet the increased global demand for Javelin.

This achievement not only accelerates the flow of Javelin systems to users but, along with upgrades to the Command Launch Units (CLUs), also ushers in a new era of resilience and readiness for the fire-and-forget weapon system.

Increased Production Capacity

Over the past two years, the Javelin AUR production line has undergone a comprehensive capacity ramp up that has nearly doubled its annual output. To increase production, Lockheed Martin is ramping up AUR production on its already-active manufacturing line and with Javelin's supply chain partners. Lockheed Martin is also investing in accelerating the long-lead supply chain parts and equipment needed to support higher rates of production and speed delivery to our customers.

"By scaling our Javelin production line to meet increasing global demand, we're extending Javelin's legacy of performance excellence for years to come," said Rich Liccion, vice president, JJV and program director, Lockheed Martin Javelin. "Our increased output ensures that warfighters worldwide continue to rely on an anti-tank missile system that has delivered unmatched precision for over 30 years."

In May 2025, the JJV was awarded the largest single-year Javelin production contract to date, which was a follow-on award that is a part of an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) production contract that was initially awarded in May 2023.

In addition, the Javelin team will complete building of all ramp-critical test stations by the end of the year. These test stations will verify that the Javelin missile and its subcomponents meet environmental, performance and functional requirements. Following completion of the ramp-critical stations, the program will continue upgrading 16 additional test stations that duplicate essential capabilities, modernizing legacy equipment, improving reliability and helping sustain production capability over the long term.

LWCLU Upgrades

The Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Unit (LWCLU) is the next-generation launcher for the Javelin weapon system, engineered to be compatible with all current, past and future Javelin variants. The JJV recently delivered the first LWCLUs to the U.S. Army.

As part of the JJV's commitment to continuous enhancements, Raytheon has invested $22 million to modernize the LWCLU factory to increase production speed and expand capacity. In collaboration with the U.S. Army, the facility in Tucson, Ariz., is ramping annual LWCLU production.

"Delivering the LWCLU into soldiers' hands underscores our commitment to accelerating meaningful capability upgrades," said Jenna Hunt Frazier, JJV president and Javelin program director at Raytheon. "Our investment in modernization and production capacity ensures the Army can field this advanced launcher more quickly, giving soldiers better awareness and greater lethality on today's battlefield."

The LWCLU significantly enhances battlefield effectiveness, delivering twice the target detection and recognition range while reducing size by 30% and weight by 25%. Its improved optics and day-night surveillance capability provide greater mobility, situational awareness and survivability - all in a lighter design tailored for modern operational demands.

By pairing modernized hardware upgrades with increased AUR production, the JJV safeguards today's warfighter while laying the groundwork for tomorrow's battlefield advantages.

Javelin is developed and produced by the JJV between Raytheon, in Tucson, Arizona, and Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Florida. To date, the JJV has produced more than 55,000 Javelin missiles and more than 12,000 reusable Command Launch Units.