Australia seeks to acquire 161 Javelin LwCLUs from US
Australia has requested the US government for the sale of Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LwCLU) and ancillary gear for an estimated cost of $97.3m.
Approved by the US State Department, the possible foreign military sale (FMS) includes the acquisition of 161 LwCLUs to complement an existing agreement that remained below the threshold necessitating congressional notification.
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The initial FMS agreement, with a valuation of $6.3m, encompassed support over the Javelin system’s lifecycle, along with both governmental and contractor-provided technical aid.
Additionally, the sale is set to include several non-major defence equipment (MDE) items such as training equipment for Javelin LwCLU basic skills trainer, battery coolant units, missile simulation rounds, various manuals, spare parts, system integration services, and comprehensive logistics and programme support.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notiified Congress in respect of the sale.
The Javelin Joint Venture, a collaborative effort between RTX and Lockheed Martin, is identified as the principal contractor for this transaction.
The execution of this proposed sale is not expected to necessitate additional US personnel in Australia.
DSCA said: “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States. Australia is one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific. The strategic location of this political and economic power contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the Western Pacific. It is vital to the US national interest to assist our ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defence capability.”
The Javelin LwCLUs will enhance Australia’s “advanced surface-to-surface missile capabilities”, help improve its deterrence posture against potential threats and bolstering its contributions to collective anti-armour efforts.
Currently, there are no known offset agreements linked to this potential sale; any such agreements would be determined through future negotiations between Australia and the contractor, said the agency.
Earlier, in March 2025, the US authorised a possible FMS to Australia for countermeasures and related equipment valued at $165m.
That same month saw approval for an FMS comprising Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System-Alternate Warhead (GMLRS-AW) rounds and associated equipment for Australia’s defence forces.
