The US State Department has approved the sale of 82 anti-tank Javelin FGM-148 missiles to Georgia in a $30 million deal.
The sale to the South Caucasus nation also includes 46 Javelin Command Launch Units and several other types of equipment.
Proposed Sale
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of Georgia which is a strategic partner and a key contributor to [the] security and stability [of] the region,” the State Department said.
“The Javelin system will help Georgia build its long-term defense capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in order to meet its national defense requirements.”
Additionally, the sale is expected to improve Georgia’s “capability to meet current and future threats by increasing its antiarmor capacity.” The State Department expects Georgia will not have problems “absorbing these weapons into its armed forces.”
As per protocol, the State Department gave assurance that the sale will have no adverse impact on US defense readiness.
Javelin Missile
The Javelin Missile is an anti-tank guided munition manufactured by Raytheon Missiles & Defense and Lockheed Martin. It is launched by a single person and can be used day and night and in any weather conditions. It is employed by the US Army, the US Marine Corps, and various countries around the world.
The Javelin has been used in US operations in Afghanistan and Iraq and is expected to be in inventory until 2050.
