ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Javelin Joint Venture recently delivered the 40,000^th Javelin missile to the U.S. Army.

Javelin is the world's premier shoulder-fired anti-armor system. After launch, Javelin automatically guides itself to the target, allowing the operator to take cover and avoid counterfire. The operator can reposition immediately after launch or reload to engage another threat. Following launch, Javelin climbs above its target for improved visibility and then strikes where the vehicle's armor is weakest. Javelin's launch design allows it to be safely fired from inside buildings or bunkers.

"Javelin provides a real battlefield advantage for U.S. and allied warfighters," said Richard Benton, Javelin Joint Venture vice president and Javelin program manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. "Javelin's reliability, accuracy and lethality make it a key weapon in operators' arsenals. The attention to detail that our entire production team, including our subcontractors, gives to the Javelin missile has made this significant production milestone possible."

Javelin's versatility makes it effective against tanks, bunkers, buildings, small boats and slow-moving helicopters. The system has a 94 percent effectiveness rate in combat operation, and recent tests have demonstrated that it is also adaptable to many platforms, including tripods, trucks and lightly armored vehicles.

"The Javelin Joint Venture is providing U.S. and allied warfighters with an affordable, versatile and lethal one-man-portable, anti-armor, guided missile and superior battlefield surveillance system," said John Halvey, Javelin Joint Venture president and program manager at Raytheon. "The industry and government Javelin team is committed to providing warfighters with the most advanced close combat weapons on the battlefield."

About Javelin

Javelin is a compact, lightweight missile designed for one-soldier operations in all environments. It is made by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Raytheon Company and Lockheed Martin. Javelin has been adopted by international armed forces around the world. It is currently fielded with the U.S. Army and has also been approved for foreign military sales to 14 nations.

About Lockheed Martin Corporation

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 113,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products, and services. The Corporation's net sales for 2013 were $45.4 billion. For additional information, visit our website: www.lockheedmartin.com.

About Raytheon

Raytheon Company, with 2013 sales of $24 billion and 63,000 employees worldwide, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, security and civil markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 92 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as cyber security and a broad range of mission support services. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. For more about Raytheon, visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.

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SOURCE Javelin Joint Venture

Related Links

http://www.raytheon.com