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United Kingdom Increases Order for Raytheon-Lockheed Martin Javelin for Light Forces Anti-Tank Guided Weapon system
TUCSON, Ariz., Oct. 14, 2004 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence has placed a follow-on order, valued at approximately $180 million, for the Raytheon-Lockheed Martin Javelin weapon system. This purchase of Javelin will provide a medium-range anti-tank missile for the British Army's Armored Ground Component (AGC) requirement. The selection of Javelin for AGC follows a competitive win by the Javelin Joint Venture and its U.K. partners for the U.K. Light Forces Anti-tank Guided Weapon program in 2003. This follow-on order increases the number of rounds and command launch units that will be procured through a hybrid foreign military sale/ direct commercial sale. Minister for Defence Procurement Lord Bach said: "Javelin is already in service with the U.S. Army and has proved its worth in recent operations in Iraq. It is manoeuvrable enough to move quickly around the battlefield but also has enough power to take out the most heavily protected tanks and armoured vehicles. "We agreed a contract to provide the weapon to 16 Air Assault Brigade, 3 Commando Brigade and the Mechanised Infantry last year and have now agreed an additional purchase for other infantry and reconnaissance units, ensuring they are equipped with the very best weaponry available. "It took less than a year to go from formulating the requirement to signing the contract -- a contract which promises to deliver an exceptional combination of capability and value-for-money. This is a prime example of the benefits that SMART acquisition can bring. "I am delighted the purchase will help to sustain some 200 jobs around the U.K.," concluded Lord Bach. "Continued Javelin procurement will provide the U.K. forces with one of the most precise and lethal weapons on the battlefield for many years in the future," said Col. Lloyd E. McDaniels, the U.S. Army's project manager at U.S. Army Close Combat Weapon Systems. "Also, the Javelin's integrated day and thermal night sights provide the soldier with the ability to perform surveillance missions and increases situational awareness to the commander and Javelin gunners and ensures both operational and logistic interoperability with U.S. Army, Marine and Special Operation Forces." With this award, Javelin becomes the U.K.'s premier anti-armor/assault weapon and will be fielded with light rapid reaction forces, mechanized forces and now the armored forces. Javelin will provide the latest man-portable, anti-tank weapon capability that can be used day or night. With a range of up to 2,500 metres, using long-wave imaging infrared technology, it will allow for deployment by a single soldier and can be fired from within a confined space. The Light Forces component of the Javelin program will enter service in 2005. The AGC Javelin program will enter service in 2007. Javelin is in service with the U.S. Army and Marine Corps and has been used extensively on operations including Operation Iraqi Freedom. Along with the U.K. selection of Javelin, other commonwealth nations that have already procured Javelin include Australia and New Zealand. Javelin is also on order for the armed forces of several other countries and is being evaluated for integration onto ground and naval platforms. "Javelin and our U.K. team members are very pleased that the U.K. has put its trust in us to deliver such an important capability to the British Army and Royal Marines," said Michael Crisp, Javelin Joint Venture president. "The Javelin system is the world's only combat-proven medium range fire-and-forget anti-armor system. I look forward to continuing our relationship with world- class U.K. teammates to bring a combat proven, highly effective, low risk, value for money solution to the British armed forces." "Lockheed Martin chose BAE Systems Basildon to continue to produce the Javelin seeker, a high-technology item," said Howard Weaver, Javelin Joint Venture vice president. "BAES' excellent performance was a key factor in winning this follow-on contract. This lays the foundation for continuing trans-Atlantic cooperation." The Javelin JV is working on a number of technology spirals with both the U.S. and U.K. in support of future requirements including extended range. Future applications such as U.S. Future Combat Systems and the U.K. Future Rapid Effects Systems-Guided Weapon are considered potential future technology insertions. The Raytheon-Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture has a large U.K. partnership base and this procurement will further enhance their position within the wider Javelin community. Currently 15 companies throughout the country are supplying components up to sub-assembly level for the Javelin program. Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2003 sales of $18.1 billion, is an industry leader in defense and government electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 78,000 people worldwide. Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) employees about 130,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. Contacts: Raytheon Lockheed Martin Ange Jaskiewicz Jennifer Allen 520.794.8580 407.356.5351 SOURCE: Raytheon Company Web site: http://www.raytheon.com/