Norway Selects Raytheon-Lockheed Martin JAVELIN Anti-Tank Weapon System
Raytheon/Lockheed Martin JAVELIN Joint Venture
ORLANDO, FL, January 28th, 2004 -- The Norwegian Ministry of Defence has selected the Javelin weapon system, manufactured by the Raytheon-Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture, as its medium-range, anti-armor missile. This marks the fifth country to have selected Javelin in 2003, including the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.
The contract, valued at approximately $86 million, calls for 526 missile rounds and 90 command launch units (CLUs), along with trainers, contractor logistic support and spares. Delivery is scheduled for mid-2006 to mid-2007.
The announcement concluded a 15-month competitive procurement that pitted Javelin against a competitor with similar capabilities, and included very demanding head-to-head performance testing.
"The [Norwegian] Army has desired this capability for a long period of time, so I am therefore very glad that we now have this in place," said Norwegian Minister of Defence Kristin Krohn Devold.
The Javelin system, which was used extensively in Afghanistan and Iraq by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps and by Australian Special Forces, will give the Norwegian Army a one-man-portable, anti-tank weapon with a range of 65 to 2,500 meters. Javelin technology includes long-wave imaging infrared technology that permits employment in all weather and battlefield conditions. Javelin's light weight (49 pounds) and soft launch allow it to be fired by a single soldier within an enclosure.
The contract contains provisions for the Javelin Joint Venture, in conjunction with SAAB, to provide a unique Norwegian field tactical trainer adapted to the Norwegian national training center, an interface device that enables the ERYX tripod to be employed with Javelin and new terrain for the basic-skills trainer that is distinctive to Norway's requirements.
The selection of Javelin is expected to bolster Norway's defense industry. Under the terms of the industrial participation agreement, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin will provide high-technology workshare to a number of Norwegian defense contractors, including Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace, Nammo, Vinghog, Dyno and NATECH.
"The Norwegian Army will benefit from Javelin's lock-on-before-launch fire-and-forget capability, which increases troop survivability," said Michael Crisp, president, Javelin Joint Venture. "Troops can fire Javelins from behind protection and be out of harm's way before the threat has a chance to counter-fire. The countermeasure-resistant, long-wave infrared seeker allows engagement in reduced visibility, making it particularly well suited to the climatic conditions the Norwegian troops are likely to have to contend with if they are called upon for homeland defense."
Jim Gribschaw, Javelin program manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, added, "The record shows Javelin is the world's leading man-portable anti-armor weapon. The system faced a defining moment in its first major combat application in Iraq, and passed with flying colors. It did everything it was designed to do and more."
When asked what he believed led to Norway's decision to acquire Javelin over the competition Gribschaw stated, "Javelin clearly demonstrated its superior performance in rigorous cold-weather tests. Its proven one-shot lethality, high reliability and extremely low support costs provide the best value."
Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), with 2003 sales of $18.1 billion, is an industry leader in defense, government and commercial electronics, space, information technology, technical services, and business and special mission aircraft. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs more than 78,000 people worldwide.
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control
Jennifer Allen 407-356-5351, e-mail jennifer.l.allen@lmco.com
Raytheon Missile Systems
Sara Hammond, 520-794-7810
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