Javelin: portable anti-tank weapon has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance

The US government on Tuesday (31st) announced a new aid package to Ukraine worth US$700 million, which includes, among others, high-tech medium-range missile systems, helicopters, tactical vehicles, spare parts and others. It also includes an anti-tank weapon system called the Javelin.

The American weapon is a favorite of Ukrainians, and after images of soldiers carrying missile launchers on their shoulders traveled the world, they became a symbol of resistance to Russian occupation and also a symbol of American support.

So much so that a meme turned the Javelin into a religious icon in the hands of Mary Magdalene, an iconic saint of the Orthodox tradition. The cleric, transformed into “Saint Javelin”, the protector of Ukraine, fires one of these missiles in the yellow and blue colors of the Ukrainian flag.

strong double shot

But the system is no joke. It can pierce the most advanced armor, especially useful in a guerrilla context.

Equipped with two explosive charges, it pierces the most advanced tanks in the world, especially Russian T-90 tanks, whose explosive armor reacts to the impact of the projectile to reduce its effects and prevent a puncture.

Javelin’s first charge explodes on contact with the tank, releasing a second, even more powerful charge that pierces the armor.

It has a range of 2,500 meters and can be used in direct attack mode to knock down a wall, or to hit a low-flying element such as a helicopter when aimed upwards.

It can also be used in indirect attack mode when the missile rises up to 160 meters and drops vertically at the target like Roman legionnaires throw spears. It is this trajectory that makes it a formidable weapon against tanks, as the hatch opens on the roof where the vehicle is most vulnerable.

looks like a video game

Also, the Javelin is lighter than other anti-tank systems that require a tripod, so it can be used on the shoulder.

Before the propulsion system is activated, the projectile is launched several meters from the shooter, allowing the soldier to go unnoticed further, and the weapon can even be used from inside a building.

It’s called “fire and forget” which allows you to pinpoint the target before firing, after which the bullet is completely self-guided. The sniper can take cover even before the missile hits the target.

It’s very easy to use, according to an American soldier consulted by AFP. “If you’ve played video games, you can use it,” he explains.

Unlike other disposable missile weapons, the Javelin has a fire control unit equipped with GPS, infrared camera and motorized zoom that can be reused many times. The tube containing the missile is connected to this unit.

The command unit is valuable because “when we run out of ammunition, we can still use it to track and monitor the enemy,” says the American soldier.

Manufactured by American manufacturers Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, the Javelin missile launcher costs $178,000 each and includes the launch system and missile, according to the Pentagon’s 2021 budget.

Each spare missile costs about $78,000.

Provocation

In January, an American cargo plane has already landed in Kiev and has delivered several dozen Javelin missiles to the Ukrainian army, this was seen as a provocation for Russia and caused the reaction of other allied countries. According to a senior US official, there are more than 2,600 Javelin missiles in Ukraine.

Now, the US decision to speed up arms shipments has prompted a response from Moscow, which says the new military aid “raises the risk” of military conflict between Russia and the US.

“We believe that the United States deliberately added fuel to the fire (…) Deliveries [de armas] “Do not encourage the Ukrainian authorities to continue peace talks while Russia tightens its control over the separatist Lugansk region,” said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian presidency.

In an article in The New York Times on Tuesday night, US President Joe Biden confirmed that he had decided to “provide the Ukrainians with more advanced missile and ammunition systems that will enable them to more accurately hit key targets on the battlefield in Ukraine.”

“We do not encourage or allow Ukraine to attack beyond its borders. We do not want to prolong the war just to inflict pain on Russia,” he wrote.

On Monday, he had already stated that the United States would not send “missile systems that could hit Russia” to Ukraine.

However, if positioned close enough to the border, such launchers can reach the territory of the neighboring country. Government sources in Washington said the Ukrainians had assured the Americans that they would not launch missiles on Russian soil.