Javelin missile showcases might in latest Ukrainian offensive

Forbes analyst David Axe believes that the anti-tank guided missiles used in FGM-148 Javelin launchers are a significant challenge for the Russians trying to remove Ukrainian forces from their territory. He references a Russian war blogger who claims that Ukrainian drones and anti-tank missiles have forced "tanks to operate only from hidden positions."

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense stated that the Russian losses shown in the video were the result of just two days of operations by the 36th Marine Brigade in the Kursk region. With the help of the FGM-148 Javelin, three tanks and four BMD-4 infantry fighting vehicles were destroyed.

The FGM-148 Javelin is a "fire-and-forget" system developed by Lockheed Martin. It features an infrared sensor that allows it to lock onto the thermal image of a target. The range of the missiles varies depending on the launcher version: older models can engage targets up to about 1 mile, while newer versions can reach distances over 3 miles.

It is estimated that, thanks to decisions by the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden, around 10,000 anti-tank guided missiles designed for FGM-148 Javelin launchers were sent to Ukraine, with several hundred potentially received by Ukrainian forces.

A shooter using the FGM-148 Javelin has two operational modes to choose from. The first mode involves a direct hit on the target, while in the second mode, the missile ascends to a significant height (up to 500 feet) before descending onto the target, enabling it to defeat more heavily armored vehicles.

FGM-148 Javelin missiles inflicted significant losses on Russian forces in the early weeks of the war as they advanced with large numbers of armored vehicles. As evidenced by the recent events in the Kursk region, this American-made equipment, often referred to as a tank destroyer, remains highly effective.