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The US Army has received its first batch of new, lighter Javelin launchers.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, the Javelin is a portable, shoulder-fired anti-tank guided missile that’s been one of the US military’s most badass weapons for destroying tanks, armored vehicles, and other shit since the 1990s. It comes in two main parts: a reusable launcher called the Command Launch Unit (CLU), which is basically the targeting and aiming system, and a single-use missile that sits inside a disposable launch tube. The whole thing is light enough for one soldier to carry and fire. What makes the Javelin so deadly is that it’s a “fire-and-forget” weapon, meaning the gunner locks the missile’s infrared seeker onto a target, pulls the trigger, and the missile guides itself the rest of the way, so the soldier can immediately duck behind cover or reposition instead of staying exposed while steering it in. It’s also built for a “top-attack” profile, where the missile climbs up into the air after launch and then dives straight down onto the target, smashing into the thin top armor where it’s most vulnerable (it can also be switched to a flatter, direct-fire mode for hitting bunkers, buildings, or low-flying helicopters).

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What’s going on now: Defense contractor RTX announced Tuesday that it had delivered the first Lightweight Command Launch Units (LWCLU), which will replace the older, heavier launchers currently in use. Built by the Javelin Joint Venture (a partnership between RTX’s Raytheon and Lockheed Martin), the new unit is 30% smaller and 25% lighter than its predecessor while offering “twice the target detection and recognition range,” day or night, thanks to upgraded infrared camera technology. Crucially, it’s compatible with all past, current, and future Javelin missiles, and once paired with a new “G-model” missile, its effective range is expected to jump from about 1.5 miles to just over 2.5 miles.

“Delivering the first LWCLUs to the U.S. Army reflects the Javelin Joint Venture’s commitment to continuously advancing technology for service members,” said Jenna Hunt Frazier, the venture’s president.

This all comes as the US scrambles to rebuild its Javelin stockpiles after sending more than 10,000 of the systems to Ukraine (where they’ve proved themselves against the Russian military).

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