Qatar looking to buy 500 FGM-148 Javelin missiles

As required, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified the United States Congress of a possible sale of FGM-148 Javelin missiles and related equipment to Qatar.

The proposed Foreign Military Sales deal if realized would include:

• 500 FGM-148 missiles
• 50 command launch units
• battery coolant units
• missile simulation rounds
• Javelin weapon effects simulators
• spare parts
• support equipment
• personnel training and equipment for training
• logistics support

The entire package is estimated to be worth about $122 million.

The FGM-148 Javelin is a man-portable, fire-and-forget, anti-tank missile. Its specifications are:

• operated by a crew of 2
• a length of 1.2 m
• a missile length of 1.1 m
• a diameter of 142 mm
• a missile diameter of 127 mm
• an effective range of 2500 m
• a maximum range of 4750 m
• a weight of 22.3 kg
• a missile weight of 11.8 kg
• a 8 kg tandem-shaped charge High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) warhead

The missile is guided by an imaging infrared seeker.

Unlike older generation missiles, which were often wire-guided and left the launch crew vulnerable during attack, the Javelin crew can move as soon as the missile is fired, which improves survivability.

The Javelin can be used against armored vehicles using a top-attack flight profile, where armor usually is the thinnest, or against buildings and low-flying helicopters using a direct-attack flight profile.


http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2013/Qatar_12-62.pdf

By United States Army [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

By SGT MAURICIO CAMPINO, USMC [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons