The effectiveness of ATGM FGM-148 Javelin
The launch of the FGM-148 missile during the exercises. Photo by the US Department of Defense
American FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile systems have been actively used in various armed conflicts over the past two decades. This is weapon confirmed the main characteristics and showed its ability to hit various targets and solve various tasks, and also received good publicity. At the same time, practice has shown that the Javelin is not an ideal weapon, and the results of its use do not always meet expectations.
Technical potential
The future FGM-148 Javelin ATGM has been developed since the late eighties by several American companies and was adopted by the US Army in 1996. Soon after, it became one of the main anti-tank weapons in its arsenals. Export sales were also launched. To date, the FGM-148 has been adopted by two dozen countries and new orders are expected. Tens of thousands of serial products have been manufactured.
Structurally, the FGM-148 is divided into a Command Launch Unit (CLU) launcher and a transport and launch container with a missile. The container is disposable and is discarded after launch. Instead, a new one is connected to the CLU, after which the ATGM is ready for a new shot.
The CLU device is equipped with advanced optics. There is a day channel and two cooled thermal imagers with different field of view and magnification. A typical scenario for the use of anti-tank systems provides for their consistent use. The CLU also has electronics for processing and issuing data to the rocket before launch.
TPK missiles in production. Photos Lockheed Martin
The FGM-148 missile is a solid propellant munition with a cooled infrared homing head and a tandem HEAT warhead. The length of the rocket is 1,2 m, the diameter, excluding rudders, is 127 mm. Depending on the modification, the range of the missile reaches 2,5-4,7 km. Penetration is declared at the level of 700-750 mm for dynamic protection.
Ready-to-use ATGM "Javelin" has a length of approx. 1,2 m and a diameter of less than half a meter. The mass of the product is 22,3 kg, which allows it to be carried by the operator. Mounting on a tripod or mounting on vehicles is also possible.
Combat application
The first episodes of the combat use of the FGM-148 anti-tank systems in real conflicts date back to the beginning of the XNUMXs. So, a significant number of complexes were in service with the units sent to Afghanistan. The enemy practically did not use armored vehicles, and missiles were used to destroy other targets - buildings, fortifications, natural shelters, etc. In addition, CLU devices were used as a convenient multifunctional surveillance tool.
During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, US troops used the Javelin for the first time on real tanks enemy. As reported, ATGM showed high efficiency. With the help of CLU, operators easily found and took on target tracking in all conditions, and missiles were successfully aimed and hit tanks. However, it should be noted that the Iraqi army had outdated armored vehicles. The newest tanks in its units were T-72s of early modifications.
"Javelin" in the Ukrainian army. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
In the mid-XNUMXs, against the backdrop of a general deterioration in the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, the active use of Javelins began again. In general, such use was similar to that which had previously taken place in Afghanistan. At the same time, new goals and objectives appeared. Thus, anti-tank systems proved to be a convenient tool for combating "shahidmobiles" of suicide bombers.
Missiles for Ukraine
After 2014-15 in Ukrainian paramilitary circles, an unhealthy attitude towards American anti-tank systems has formed on the verge of a strange cult. The army desired to receive such a weapon and placed the highest hopes on it. Such desires began to come true in 2018, when the United States shipped the first batch of complexes to Ukraine. By early 2022, the Ukrainian army had several hundred CLUs and more missiles.
At the beginning of the year, foreign states began to supply Ukraine with new missiles and launchers, and after February 24, these processes intensified. According to various sources, about 7 anti-tank systems have been handed over or sold to the Ukrainian side so far. According to recent reports, this is equivalent to a third of the US Army's stockpile.
Since the end of February, the Ukrainian army has been using the FGM-148 against tanks and other armored vehicles of the army of Russia and the republics of Donbass. Ukrainian propaganda trumpets about outstanding successes and the defeat of a great number of enemy vehicles. Foreign sources, who do not share such optimism, give more modest figures. According to them, about 200-300 missiles have already been used, and a significant part of them hit their intended targets.
Allegedly, the use of Javelin on a Russian tank. The mise en scene indicates the staged nature of the shooting, although the successful defeat of the real target is declared. Photo bmpd.livejournal.com
However, there is no confirmation of this. In addition, the statistics of damage and loss of Russian equipment remains unknown. With all this, there are cases when Russian or republican equipment copes with an attack. Undermining the tandem warhead of an American missile predictably destroys the dynamic protection unit and damages some other details - but penetration of armor and defeat of the crew or internal units is not guaranteed. As a result, the launch is formally successful, but the tank retains mobility and combat capability.
Application and its results
It is known that the FGM-148 ATGM has a number of advantages and disadvantages. Its strengths include small dimensions and ease of use, fairly effective optoelectronic means, work on the principle of "launched and forgotten" and fairly high combat qualities. There are also disadvantages, such as the high cost of the complex and missiles, as well as a limited range.
Available data on the combat use of Javelin products allows us to more accurately determine their real potential. In general, it is easy to see that it depends not only on tabular characteristics, but also on a number of other factors. These are the features of the conflict and the range of existing goals, the specifics of the application, and even the level of training of personnel.
It is curious that the FGM-148 systems worked on tanks only in separate conflicts - during the war in Iraq and in the current Ukrainian crisis. In other cases, the missiles were used on equipment of other classes or on various structures. Such episodes are of some interest, but do not demonstrate the full potential of the complex.
Tank T-72B3 after hitting several missiles and grenades in the side hemisphere. The crew was not injured, and the tank will return to service after repairs. Photo Telegram / "Older than Edda"
Good statistics on the use of the complex in its original anti-tank capacity was obtained only in Iraq, when the targets of the missiles were obsolete tanks with a limited level of armor and without additional protection. Now the Javelins are attacking Russian armored vehicles and even inflicting some damage on them. But defeat and destruction with one shot, as in advertising, is unlikely.
This performance degradation has several causes. First of all, it is necessary to note the specifics of current events in Ukraine. Not all Ukrainian ATGM operators have the proper level of training and can effectively use their weapons. In addition, the complexes show the best results in open areas, and battles often take place in urban areas, which limit the viewing and launch range.
If the Javelin missile manages to find a target and locks on it, a hit is not guaranteed. At one time, active advertising of this ATGM attracted the attention of not only potential customers, but also designers of armored vehicles and protective equipment. It began to be considered as one of the main modern threats to tanks and was taken into account in their further development. As a result, the danger of a relatively old missile for tanks of new modifications with modern protection has been reduced.
Of interest are the quantitative indicators of the current operation of the Javelins. To date, Ukraine has received more than 7 such items, but has used only a few hundred. At the same time, a significant number of weapons were destroyed by Russian strikes along with warehouses or vehicles. In addition, some of the complexes became trophies. Such losses also have a negative impact on the overall statistics and results of combat use.
Ambiguous results
During the operation of the FGM-148 Javelin ATGM, it performed well overall. In some situations, he fully realized his potential and even went beyond the original functions, while in others the results of the application left much to be desired. An analysis of the situation shows that the effectiveness of this ATGM depends not only on the technical features and characteristics, but also on a number of other factors - from the training of the operator to the design of the target.
In general, despite all the limitations and problems, Javelin remains a modern and fairly effective anti-tank missile system. Do not underestimate him and ignore the threat he poses. At the same time, it is also not worth placing excessive hopes on the complex and making it an object of worship. However, the Ukrainian approach with a "cult" and insufficient training of operators also has positive consequences. It reduces the risks to our troops and simplifies demilitarization.
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