Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) and the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV) have signed a memorandum of understanding to produce the Javelin anti-tank weapon system in Poland.
It will explore the establishment of a final assembly facility and component production capabilities in the country.
The agreement intends to cater to an increased current and future demand for the Javelin in the region in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“This agreement will stabilize future production of the Javelin system for US forces while providing unique opportunities for Polish industry,” Lockheed Martin, one of the two partners in JJV, said in a press release.
Growing Demand
The Javelin has played a key role in enabling Ukrainian forces to nullify Russia’s superior armored deployment, particularly during the invasion’s initial stages.
The success of the weapon has resulted in growing demand, particularly from militaries facing a numerically superior adversary, such as Taiwan.
Manufacturers have ordered that production be ramped up to meet the demand, and the latest announcement complements this effort.
“Together with PGZ, we are exploring a number of opportunities to leverage the resident skills and expertise of Polish industry for Javelin co-production,” JVV president Andy Amaro said.
“With growing demand for Javelin, these new industry partners can play a vital role in supporting the production and delivery of this combat-proven, fire-and-forget weapon system to the global Javelin community.”
Javelin Joint Venture
Javelin is developed and produced by JJV, a partnership between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.
Raytheon produces the weapon at its Tucson and Arizona facilities, and Lockheed at its Orlando and Florida plants.
The PGZ is a Polish holding company that unites over 30 state-owned defense companies.
Poland has already ordered nearly 700 Javelin missiles and over 1,000 launchers for $108 million.
Features
The man-portable system uses a high-explosive anti-tank warhead, which can defeat modern tanks by attacking them from above.
It can also be employed in direct attack mode to strike buildings and low-flying helicopters.
The 22.3-kilogram (49 pounds) system has an effective range of 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles).
“This partnership will strengthen our relationship with Poland and ensure they have the deterrence capabilities needed to support their national security,” JJV Vice President Dave Pantano added.
“The MOU allows us to develop a strategic long-term international partnership with PGZ and create a win-win scenario for both Poland and the US to supply our customers with Javelin’s proven capabilities.”