Lockheed Martin and Raytheon plan to establish production of Javelin anti-tank missiles in Poland

Poland will start production of Javelin anti-tank missiles. Polish company Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) has signed a memorandum of understanding with US defence giants Lockheed Martin and Raytheon.

Here's What We Know

PGZ, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon intend to explore the possibility of launching a facility in Poland where Javelin components will be manufactured and assembled. The memorandum develops a strategic partnership with PGZ and will allow the US to provide customers with proven Javelin capabilities.

The US Department of Defence believes the anti-tank missiles played a key role in Ukraine's defence by preventing Russian forces from capturing Kyiv in early 2022. According to the Pentagon, Javelin deliveries to Ukraine have already exceeded 10,000 units.

Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the US wants to ramp up production of key munitions. In particular, the US Army has announced plans to produce more than 1 million artillery shells annually by 2025. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon plan to increase Javelin production from 2,000 to 3,500+ missiles per year.

U.S. weapons production outside the U.S. is nothing new. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, assembles Black Hawk helicopters in Poland. Fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter jets are already being assembled in Italy and Japan, and Rheinmetall will soon be building fuselage centre sections in Germany.

Source: Defence One