Georgia already uses the Javelin antitank missile but it is poised to receive more. (Photo: US Army/MAJ Randy Ready)
The US State Department on 3 August announced its approval of a potential $30 million FMS deal to supply Georgia with additional Javelin FGM-148 antitank missiles and related equipment.
The Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin JV would be the prime contractor on the sale, which would see 82 Javelins delivered from US Army stocks.
Also included are 46 Javelin Command Launch Units (CLUs), training and simulation hardware, plus technical and logistics support.
The then defence minister Irakli Garibashvili announced in December 2020 that the Georgian MoD intends to procure more FGM-148 Javelins in 2021, in addition to the 72 launchers and 410 missiles previously received from the US.
‘This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of Georgia which is a strategic partner and a key contributor to security and stability [in] the region,’ the State Department noted in justifying its latest decision.
It added that the Javelin system will help Georgia build its long-term defence capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in order to meet its national defence requirements.
The State Department also recently approved an FMS of 300 Javelins and 50 CLUs for Thailand.
The new artillery and howitzer factory pre-dates the emphasis on this capability from this month’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The first joint industry-government meeting outlined in the review took place this week.
Romania received its first Cobra MkII 4×4 light tactical armoured vehicles, ordered Abrams main battle tanks (MBTs) and VAMTAC light vehicles, and is set to invest billions-of-dollars in infantry fighting vehicles.
The Italian Army operates Pumas in 6×6 and 4×4 configurations but the platforms are ageing and numbers have fallen with obsolescence also being an issue. Any replacement is likely to have a focus on the involvement of local industry.
The VAMTAC (Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico or High Mobility Tactical Vehicle) 4×4 by Urovesa is in service with or has been ordered by eight countries, the most recent being Spain this month and Romania last month.
Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) is a next-generation surface-to-surface missile with the solid rocket motor (SRM) provided by Northrop Grumman. The company is working to boost its SRM production capability.
The CV90 is in service with or ordered by ten countries. The agreement between six of these countries is designed to create commonality to provide economies of scale and a reduced training burden.
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