The U.S. Army has started receiving a lighter and more capable version of the Javelin missile launcher, giving infantry troops improved mobility and longer target engagement range on the battlefield.

The Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, delivered the first Lightweight Command Launch Units, or LWCLUs, from its production facility in Tucson, Arizona. The upgraded launcher cuts weight by 25 percent and reduces size by 30 percent compared to the older Command Launch Unit currently used by Army forces.

The delivery comes as the Pentagon works to modernize infantry weapons while replenishing stockpiles after years of heavy Javelin use in Ukraine. Military planners also want infantry units to engage armored threats from greater distances as rival forces field longer-range weapons and surveillance systems.

Built for combat mobility

The LWCLU focuses heavily on reducing the physical burden placed on frontline troops. Infantry soldiers already carry heavy combat loads that include weapons, ammunition, radios, batteries, and protective equipment. The older Javelin launch unit weighed roughly 14 pounds in addition to the missile rounds themselves.

Army officials expect the lighter launcher to improve troop movement during long patrols, urban combat missions, and rapid deployments. The smaller design also makes the system easier to transport inside military vehicles and confined fighting positions.

Despite the redesign, the launcher remains compatible with all existing Javelin missile variants. Units can continue using current missile inventories without introducing separate launcher systems or additional training requirements.

The Javelin missile has remained a core part of American infantry anti-armor capability since entering service in the 1990s. Unlike older wire-guided weapons, operators can fire the missile and immediately move to cover. Its infrared seeker locks onto a target before launch and guides itself to impact without further operator control.

Expanded targeting range

The most significant upgrade comes from the LWCLU’s improved optics and targeting package. According to the joint venture, the new launcher doubles target detection and recognition range compared to the older unit.

That increase gives infantry teams more time to identify and engage armored threats before enemy forces can respond effectively. U.S. military planners view extended range as increasingly important against adversaries deploying longer-range tanks, artillery systems, drones, and reconnaissance assets.

The battlefield performance of Javelin systems in Ukraine also accelerated demand for modernization. Ukrainian forces have used the missile extensively against Russian armored vehicles since 2022, reinforcing the system’s reputation and driving production demand higher.

Production expansion underway

The United States has transferred thousands of Javelin missiles to Ukraine while continuing deliveries to U.S. forces and allied militaries. That demand strained existing production capacity and forced manufacturers to expand operations.

Raytheon recently invested $22 million to modernize the LWCLU production facility in Tucson. The company said the upgrades will increase manufacturing speed and support higher annual production alongside Army requirements.

Jenna Hunt Frazier, president of the Javelin Joint Venture and Javelin program director at Raytheon, said the delivery reflects ongoing efforts to accelerate modernization for American troops.