Javelin Joint Venture Wins $215 Million Army Order for Lightweight Launchers
The US Army has awarded the Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture a $215 million contract to produce the Lightweight Command Launch Unit. The award was announced on October 19, 2026, five months after the first launchers were delivered to the Army. It funds production of the launcher that replaces the legacy Javelin command launch unit.
The companies did not say how many launchers the contract covers or when work will finish. Raytheon builds Javelin in Tucson, Arizona, and Lockheed Martin builds it in Orlando, Florida.
Army Orders the Lightweight Javelin Launcher
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Customer | US Army |
| Contractor | Javelin Joint Venture (Raytheon and Lockheed Martin) |
| Value | $215 million |
| Scope | Production of the Lightweight Command Launch Unit (LWCLU) |
| Production sites | Tucson, Arizona (Raytheon) and Orlando, Florida (Lockheed Martin) |
| First deliveries | About five months before the award |
| Quantity and completion date | Not stated |
| Announced | October 19, 2026 |
“This contract reflects the strong partnership between industry and the Army to sustain and advance the Javelin system,” said Jenna Hunt Frazier, Javelin JV president and Raytheon Javelin program director. Rich Liccion, the JV’s vice president and Lockheed Martin’s Javelin program director, said it “reflects what we can accomplish when innovation is driven by purpose.”
Raytheon has also invested $22 million in modernising the Tucson factory that builds the launcher, according to reports on the announcement.
What Changes With the Lightweight Launcher
The command launch unit is the reusable sight and firing device that a soldier carries and attaches to the missile tube. The LWCLU is smaller and lighter than the Block I version it replaces, and Raytheon says it doubles target detection and recognition and supports day and night surveillance and engagements. Those are company claims.
| Feature | Original CLU | Lightweight CLU |
|---|---|---|
| Size and weight | Baseline Block I unit | 30% smaller and 25% lighter, per Raytheon |
| Target detection and recognition | Baseline | Doubled, per Raytheon |
| Reported range from the launcher | 2,500 m | 4,000 m |
| Missile compatibility | Javelin variants of its era | All past, current and future Javelin variants |
| Reported unit cost | Not given | $249,700 (FY2021) |
One detail stands out. The same public reference lists the lightweight launcher at about $249,700 and a G-model missile at about $216,717, both in FY2021 dollars. The reusable launcher costs more than a single missile, which helps explain why the Army orders it in batches.
Javelin Production and Export Demand
The joint venture has built more than 55,000 missiles and more than 12,000 reusable command launch units. Lockheed Martin says Javelin missile production capacity has nearly doubled over the past two years.
Export demand is part of the picture. The State Department has approved a potential Javelin sale to Egypt worth up to $832 million, covering 2,020 FGM-148F missiles and 200 LWCLUs, according to Defence Industry Europe. A possible sale is not a signed contract. The joint venture also signed an agreement with India’s Bharat Dynamics Limited in February 2025.
Javelin Joint Venture Profile
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Partners | Raytheon (RTX) and Lockheed Martin |
| Missile production | Tucson, Arizona (Raytheon) and Orlando, Florida (Lockheed Martin) |
| Output to date | More than 55,000 missiles and more than 12,000 command launch units |
| JV president | Jenna Hunt Frazier, Raytheon Javelin program director |
| JV vice president | Rich Liccion, Lockheed Martin Javelin program director |
| Missile in service | Since 1996 with US Army units |
| Export partnership | Agreement with Bharat Dynamics Limited (February 2025) |
Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Unit FAQ
What is the Lightweight Command Launch Unit?
The reusable sight and firing unit for Javelin, replacing the legacy command launch unit.
How much is the Army contract?
$215 million, announced on October 19, 2026.
Who builds Javelin?
The Javelin Joint Venture of Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, with production in Tucson, Arizona, and Orlando, Florida.
Is the new launcher compatible with older missiles?
Raytheon says it works with all past, current and future Javelin missile variants.
How many launchers did the Army order?
The companies did not say.
- RTX – “U.S. Army awards Javelin Joint Venture $215 million contract for Lightweight Command Launch Unit production” (October 19, 2026): rtx.com
- Defence Industry Europe – “Javelin Joint Venture receives $215 million U.S. Army contract to produce lightweight launchers”: defence-industry.eu
- Wikipedia – FGM-148 Javelin (technical data)
