AAWS-M/Dragon to JAVELIN

n/ t

I cannot stop thinking “What a waste!” everytime I watch videos where the expensive Javelin is being used by the US Army on mud sheds and insurgent positions on roof tops or in apartments in urban areas. Targets that are generally only a few hundred meters away and that could probably be handled just as well by a much more economical RPG-like weapon with optical sights, such as the USMC’s SMAW (which can also use projectiles with a much more useful thermobaric warhead) or the IMI Shipon.

BTW

The JAVELIN has a soft launch which means it can be launched from enclosed spaces (TI spent a fortune developing that feature).

The Spike / Gill is also advertized as to be able to being launched from enclosed positions; for example here:
http://www.defense-update.com/directory/spike-mr.htm
http://www.defense-update.com/directory/spike-lr.htm

http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/missile_systems/anti-armor/gill_spike/Spike_MR-LR.html

Dear Doug,

It is more than just penetration (to be honest with top attack penetration is not that important). The JAVELIN has a soft launch which means it can be launched from enclosed spaces (TI spent a fortune developing that feature). Also it has a much more expensive seeker which is harder to jam and stays locked better.

Finally, check the link above.

Jack E. Hammond

Thanks! So Javelin is heavier and more expensive than Spike-MR, but on the other hand has better armour penetration?

Although I think something went wrong with that link …

Good info!

Can you tell us the relative merits of the Javelin system vs. Spike-MR?

Dear Doug,

I don’t have any connections with the defense industry since the early 1990s when I got out of the defense reporting business, I can only report what is publicly known. Basically the JAVELIN is the ultimate antiarmor weapon. The US Army insisted on a weapon that many considered gold plated in range, accuracy and penetration ability. It is a heavy missile compared to the Spike-MR/LR (sometimes the MR/LR version is called GILL). It is also extremely expensive. The Israelis believe that JAVELIN is over kill. For example a soldier with the JAVELIN can only carry one where with the Spike-MR/LR you can carry two. The big advantage of the SPIKE-MR/LR is its price which most reports state is 1/3 of the JAVELIN missile. Also, with the SPIKE-LR with the addition of the fiber optic cable module you have an increase of range to 4Km. I have been told by one of the few sources I have in Raytheon that their has been a new motor developed for the JAVELIN that drastically increases it range way beyond the reported 2200 meters. But with the fire and forget seeker you have problems when fired out to higher ranges. At those ranges the target can move suddenly and break the lock or fire off smoke grenades that blank out IR waves. With the fiber optic you have the ability to fire in the approximate location of your target and then lock on a lot closer.

Finally, check the following link out. It has the most photos of any place I have ever seen on the SPIKE MR/LR.

Jack E. Hammond

JDW reported that the Russian has come out with there own version “fire and forget” ATGM .
the ATGM is based on AT-14 “Hornet” any picture and information on this missile?

Good info!

Can you tell us the relative merits of the Javelin system vs. Spike-MR?