Lockheed Martin (LMT) and RTX Benefit as U.S. Army Awards Javelin Joint Venture $215M Contract For Next-Generation Launcher Production

The U.S. Army has awarded the Javelin Joint Venture a $215 million production contract for its Lightweight Command Launch Unit, known as the LWCLU.

The Javelin Joint Venture is a partnership between Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE: RTX) business, and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), combining manufacturing operations across Tucson, Arizona, and Orlando, Florida.

The LWCLU is the next-generation launcher for the Javelin weapon system and is designed to replace the legacy command launch unit currently in service.

The new launcher is 30% smaller and 25% lighter than the current Block I Command Launch Unit, while doubling target detection and recognition capability.

The LWCLU also maximizes battlefield surveillance for soldiers, offering both day and night engagement capability to improve operational flexibility.

The contract award comes five months after the Javelin Joint Venture delivered the first LWCLUs to the Army, marking a significant milestone in the system’s development.

“This contract reflects the strong partnership between industry and the Army to sustain and advance the Javelin system,” said Jenna Hunt Frazier, JJV president and Javelin program director at Raytheon.

“By modernizing our factory and strengthening our production line, we’re ensuring soldiers receive a lighter, more capable launcher that improves operational readiness across the force,” Frazier added.

Rich Liccion, vice president of the Javelin Joint Venture and program director at Lockheed Martin, emphasized the significance of the award for the broader mission.

“The LWCLU contract award is a powerful testament to the JJV’s ongoing commitment to meeting the warfighter’s most critical needs,” said Liccion.

“This achievement reflects what we can accomplish when innovation is driven by purpose and a relentless focus on the mission we support,” Liccion continued.

The LWCLU is designed to be adaptable and compatible with all current, past, and future Javelin variants, providing long-term flexibility for Army planners.

To date, the Javelin Joint Venture has produced more than 55,000 Javelin missiles and more than 12,000 reusable Command Launch Units across its production facilities.

RTX reported 2025 sales of more than $88 billion and employs more than 180,000 people globally, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia.