Poland Cleared to buy 2,500 Javelins
The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Poland of Javelin Missile Systems and related support, a package estimated at $780 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification to Congress on September 18, clearing the way for the deal.
According to the agency, Poland has requested 2,506 FGM-148F Javelin missiles and 253 Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LWCLU). The package also includes missile simulation rounds, battery coolant units, tool kits, spare parts, training, U.S. government and contractor technical assistance, and transportation.
“The estimated total cost is $780 million,” the DSCA said in the release. The agency added that the proposed sale “will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political and economic stability in Europe.”
The Javelin system, co-produced by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, is one of the most widely used anti-tank guided missiles in NATO service. The latest FGM-148F variant offers improved lethality and adaptability across multiple combat environments.
A key element of the proposed package is the LWCLU sighting system. Compared to the original unit, the LWCLU is 70 percent smaller, 40 percent lighter, and has a 50 percent longer battery life. The new design also extends the missile’s engagement range from 2,500 meters to 4,000 meters — the same reach as Israel’s Spike LR system.
By acquiring these systems, Poland will substantially expand its anti-armor capability, particularly for its light infantry units that rely on man-portable missile systems. The DSCA release emphasized that the sale “will improve Poland’s capability to meet current and future threats by upgrading its existing inventory Command Launch Units and increasing its defense inventory, thereby reinforcing its capability to protect Polish sovereignty and interoperate with U.S. and NATO forces.”
The State Department underscored that Poland “will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
The deal, once finalized, will deepen U.S.-Polish defense cooperation at a time when Warsaw is expanding its armed forces and modernizing equipment. Poland has already been one of the largest European purchasers of U.S. weapons, including Abrams tanks, HIMARS rocket systems, and F-35 fighter jets.
The proposed Javelin sale comes amid heightened security concerns in Eastern Europe, with Poland positioning itself as a central NATO defense hub on the alliance’s eastern flank.