​The USA approved the sale to Romania of the famous Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems, which became especially famous during the war in Ukraine.

The Defense Security and Cooperation Agency (DSCA) of the United States of America reports that on December 12 it notified the US Congress of the sale to Romania of 263 Javelin FGM-148F missiles and 26 Javelin launchers.

The contract is valued by the US at approximately $80 million.

DSCA announces that the Government of Romania has submitted a request for the purchase of two hundred and sixty-three (263) Javelin FGM-148F missiles and twenty-six (26) Javelin launchers (LWCLU). The acquisition will also include military training and education, other elements of technical assistance, training and ammunition.

The FGM-148 Javelin system is a portable anti-tank missile system – a lightweight launcher that can be carried and launched by a single soldier.

Javelin is one of the most advanced mobile anti-tank systems developed by the United States. This is a system fire and forgetthat is, the soldier selects a target, fixes it and after firing can hide without sitting and aiming the missile at the target.

Javelin missiles are self-guided via an infrared sensor and have a range of 2.5 to 4 km depending on the launcher configuration. System launcher can be reused after launch.

The warhead of the missile has two practical warheads, the first designed to engage and destroy any type of dynamic (explosive) armor, and the second to penetrate basic armor.

Javelin missiles can use a top-down attack profile, basically after launch they rise above the target and fall from above, where tank armor is usually thinner.

At the moment, the Romanian army relies mainly on the man-portable Spike anti-tank missile system, but the number of these units is not large enough to cover all combat units. In addition, Spike systems are also used on mechanized equipment (MLI-84M Jderul), as well as on IAR-330 PUMA SOCAT helicopters.