Javelins and Stingers Missile Systems

Javelin anti-tank missiles 

Biden administration has approved the military aid to Ukraine and new shipment of U.S. weapons will be received by Ukrainian government  within few days which  also include Javelin and Stinger missiles.  in a televised interview on Saturday.

Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council Secretary said  that the weapons will be on the territory of our country in the upcoming days .Ukraine's allies and EU have delivered planeloads of weapons shipments to boost  its military against the Russian invasion.And, Russia has blamed the NATO member states for such delivery.

The United States, along with NATO allies and other member countries, have been providing Ukraine with military weapon systems in its fight against the Russian attack.While the Pentagon would not confirm the numbers but it's believed that Ukraine has been sent almost 17,000 Javelin anti-tank weapons. 
      As per media report ,a senior defense official said "we continue to provide Ukraine the military supply that they need to defend themselves which also includes best systems and weapons that they can use to deal with threats on the airborne , as well as ground threats".In a report ,The Washington Post said that the Biden government is working with European allies to send advanced air-defense systems along with other armaments to Ukrainian.

 What are the Javelin missile systems?

The anti-tank weapon is a shoulder-mounted system which can be operated by single person. The missile that is launched is accurate and deadly and is guided to its target by a  remote control computer.
The system can shoot two missiles per minute. It was developed and produced for the U.S. Marine Corps  and U.S. Army through a joint venture between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. 

What else  the Javelin system is capable to do? 

Let's take a look at the specifics of the system-
1. It can target any kind of vehicle that emits heat. It allows the target to be identified by either a thermal picture  or through visual methods that directs the missile. 

2. It is a fire and forget system that mean it allows the person who launches the missile to either load another missile to be launched or take cover as the missile is heading to its target.

3· It comes out of the launch tube before the primary flight motor ignites. Once the primary motor ignites then the Javelin is sent toward its predetermined target.

4· According to Lockheed Martin, it uses an arched top-attack profile.For improved visibility the missile climbs above its target and then strikes where the armor is weakest.

5· It is fired when the gunner places a cursor over the defined target and the launch unit sends a lock-on-before-launch signal to the missile. The remote computer guides the missile once it is launched.

6· It can be fired from within buildings or bunkers.

7· It is effective from 71 to 4,374 yards in most operational conditions.

8· It  uses a tandem warhead. The first part of it  either creates a path into the armor of a tank or blows the outer layer of armor up and  then the main warhead enters the path and explodes, destroying the vehicle.

 What are the Stinger missile systems?

It is officially known as the FIM-92A which is a man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS). It gives ground troops a tactical advantage to destroy helicopters or low-flying planes.

It has a small launch rocket that shoots a missile out of a launch tube. Then it's launch engine  falls away and the main solid rocket engine ignites. The rocket engine propels the Stinger toward its target at approximately 1,500 miles per hour.This missile system was developed in the 1970s. The missile system is older than the previous one. 

What else does the Stinger system do?

Let's take a look at the specifics of the system-

1· It is about five feet long.

2· It can be launched by one person.

3· It can be mounted on a ground vehicle.

4· It uses an infrared seeker to find a target engine’s exhaust.

5· It is effective against planes or helicopters flying below 11,000 feet.

6· It is lightweight, with the missile and launcher together weighing about 35 pounds.

7· It has a launcher that is reusable.

8· It is like the Javelin, is a “fire-and-forget” weapon. To launch it ,a person simply points it at the target, and when the seeker locks on, pulls the trigger.