Javelin is a very short-range air defence artillery missile system employed to counter
hostile aircraft at very low altitudes. It is man portable and can either be fired from the
shoulder or mounted on a light weight multiple launcher. Its primary role is the
protection of combat units and static locations against low level air attack. Javelin is an
evolution of the Blowpipe system.
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OPERATI0N
The system is deployed and ready to fire in less than 30 seconds and the reload time is less
than 20 seconds. The missile is mounted on the Command Launch Unit and the gunner
engages the target using the sight on the CLU, by placing a curser box over the image of the target.
The gunner locks on the automatic target tracker in the missile by sending a lock-on-before-launch
command to the missile. When the system is locked-on, the missile is ready to fire and the gunner
does not carry out post launch tracking or missile guidance. Unlike conventional wire guided,
fibre-optic cable guided, or laser beam riding missiles, Javelin is autonomously guided to the target
after launch, leaving the gunner free to reposition or reload immediately after launch.
A soft launch ejects the missile from the launch tube to give a low-recoil shoulder launch.
The soft launch enables firing from inside buildings or covered positions. Once the missile is
clear, the larger propellant in the second stage is ignited and the missile is propelled towards
the target. The weapon has two attack modes, direct or top attack. The gunner selects direct
attack mode to engage covered targets, bunkers, buildings and helicopters. The top attack
mode is selected against tanks, in which case the Javelin climbs above and strikes down on
the target to penetrate the roof of the tank where there is the least armour protection. The
missile is launched at an 18 degree elevation angle to reach a peak altitude of 150 m in top
attack mode and 50 m in direct fire mode.
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| Range: |
4.4 to 5.5 km |
| Weight: |
38 kg |
| Guidance: |
Laser |
| Ammunition: |
High explosive using both a proximity and impact fuse |
