U.S. Army orders Command Launch Unit for Javelin missile system

The U.S. Army has ordered Command Launch Unit for Javelin missile system, Pentagon announced Wednesday.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced on 6 February that Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin joint venture was awarded a $26,1 million modification (P00136) to contract W31P4Q-13-C-0129 to procure Command Launch Unit retrofits.

Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 31, 2021.

The Javelin is a man-portable, heat-seeking “fire and forget” light anti-tank weapon, meaning that a soldier or Marine who has fired it at a target does not need to remain “locked on” to the target, but can maneuver after firing to avoid counterfire from the enemy. The missile homes in on its target’s heat signature independently.

The Command Launch Unit, also known as a CLU, is a reusable portion of the Javelin system. And contains a daysight, night vision sight, controls, and indicators.

The CLU components are a main housing, absorbers, handgrips, battery compartment, daysight, night vision sight, eyepiece, test connector, and round interface connector.

The CLU also has a computer system that soldiers use to define targets. Even without a missile launch tube, a soldier can use a CLU to perform surveillance on an enemy.