Gov’t to purchase further batches of US-made Javelin anti-tank systems
The Javelin's high-explosive anti-tank warhead is capable of defeating modern tanks by attacking them from above, and is also useful against fortifications in a direct attack flight. Photo: defensenews.com.
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The Government of Georgia is planning to purchase an additional batch of Javelin anti-tank portable missile system produced in the United States, with the defence ministry revealing it would benefit from a simplified purchase agreement in obtaining the modern weaponry from the country's strategic partner.
The purchase, with a total value of $26,246,866, will be financed by funds allocated by the United States, as well as money transferred from the Georgian state budget.
The Javelin systems are expected to strengthen capabilities of the Georgian Defence Forces through an increased ability to meet "current and future threats" by increasing its anti-armour capacity.
The Georgian Defence Forces have been receiving Javelin systems from its American partners over the recent years, with the US state department making a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale of Javelin missiles and related equipment to Georgia for an estimated cost of $30 million.
The Javelin's high-explosive anti-tank warhead is capable of defeating modern tanks by attacking them from above, and is also useful against fortifications in a direct attack flight.
Javelin, which is produced by a joint venture between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, has been used extensively and to great advantage in combat operations in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
In a latest round of upgrading their equipment to NATO-standard arms, the Georgian Defence Forces have received American-made machine guns and grenade launchers, the Ministry of Defence of Georgia announced on Thursday.
The US Department of State has approved the sale of the country’s anti-tank Javelin missiles and command launch units to Georgia. Now it is up to the Congress to confirm the sale of 82 missiles and 46 command launch units to Georgia for $30 million. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has already notified Congress about the decision and said that the proposed sale is in the interests of US foreign policy and national security.
Georgian defence industry will join forces with Israeli partners to produce M4 rifles while also being in talks with Polish and South African companies to launch joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles - in addition to planning procurement of a further batch of Javelin anti-tank systems from the United States and anti-air missile systems from an Israeli company.
The United States Department of Defence has signed a contract with Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture on the production of the Javelin anti-tank missile systems for a number of countries, including Georgia. The Javelin Joint Venture will perform the works in Tucson, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of June 25, 2020.
Georgia will host the 2022 NATO-Georgia Exercise for the third time in March, with the defence manoeuvres set to be led by the Georgian Defence Forces and involve alliance and partner countries, the defence ministry announced on Tuesday.