WASHINGTON: Images of Ukrainian soldiers carrying Javelin missile launchers on their shoulders have flashed around the world, revealing anti-tank weapons – capable of penetrating the most sophisticated armor, and especially useful in guerrilla warfare – by Ukrainian resistance to Russia. is a symbol of. attack.
Western states, who want to support Ukraine militarily Without entering into direct conflict with Russia, it has supplied the Ukrainian military with a massive amount of weapons since Moscow launched its offensive on 24 February.
Ukrainians have already received about 17,000 anti-tank weapons from various Western countries, including several hundred spear launchers, and Washington on Saturday announced new military aid totaling $200 million, according to a senior US official. Including anti-tank weapons.
Ukrainian forces have also received thousands of other anti-tank weapons, including the British NLAW, the Swedish-made AT4 and more. karl-gustavsGerman Panzerfausts and Spanish Instalaza C90s.
But it is the US-made spear that has become the weapon of choice, to such an extent that a meme circulating on social media has turned it into a religious symbol, borne by Mary Magdalene, an icon saint of the Orthodox Church.
Dubbed “Saint Javelin”, the defender of Ukraine, he brands one of the missiles under a halo of the Ukrainian flag in yellow and blue.
As well as being a symbol of support by the United States, Ukraine’s most powerful ally against Russia, the spear is also prized by the military for its technical characteristics.
Equipped with two explosive charges, it can penetrate the world’s most sophisticated tanks, and in particular the Russian T-90, which has its own explosive armor reacting to the impact of the projectile to reduce or prevent penetrating the tank.
The Javelin’s first charge explodes upon contact with the tank, and then it releases a second, more powerful charge, which pierces the armor.
With a range of 2,500 meters (yards), it can be used to destroy a target in direct attack mode, or if fired overhead, to shoot down low-flying aircraft such as a helicopter. can be used for.
But it can also be used in indirect attack mode, from above: the missile rises to a height of 160 meters and then hits its target, like the spear of an ancient Roman army.
It is this trajectory from above that makes it such a formidable weapon against tanks, as the vehicles have their entrances facing upwards, and this is where they are most vulnerable.
Lighter than other anti-tank systems, which require a tripod, the javelin can be launched from a soldier’s shoulder.
The projectile is ejected a few meters from the launcher before the propulsion system is launched, making a soldier less easily identified and even allowing it to be used from inside a building. Meets.
A “fire and forget” type weapon, the target can be locked in place before firing and the missile is completely self-guided. The shooter can take cover before the missile hits the target.
According to a US soldier consulted by AFP, it is very easy to use.
“If you’ve played a video game, you can use it,” he said.
And unlike other missiles, which are usually disposable after use, the Javelin has a fire control unit equipped with GPS and an infrared camera with the ability to zoom in on the target, and which The bar is reusable.
It is on this unit that the disposable tube that holds the missile is attached.
The fire command unit is valuable because “you can use it without ammunition, to track and see the enemy”, said the US soldier.
Manufactured by American arms manufacturers Raytheon and Lockheed MartinAccording to the Pentagon’s 2021 budget, the Javelin is priced at $178,000, which includes the launch system and missiles.
Each replacement missile costs approximately $78,000.
Western states, who want to support Ukraine militarily Without entering into direct conflict with Russia, it has supplied the Ukrainian military with a massive amount of weapons since Moscow launched its offensive on 24 February.
Ukrainians have already received about 17,000 anti-tank weapons from various Western countries, including several hundred spear launchers, and Washington on Saturday announced new military aid totaling $200 million, according to a senior US official. Including anti-tank weapons.
Ukrainian forces have also received thousands of other anti-tank weapons, including the British NLAW, the Swedish-made AT4 and more. karl-gustavsGerman Panzerfausts and Spanish Instalaza C90s.
But it is the US-made spear that has become the weapon of choice, to such an extent that a meme circulating on social media has turned it into a religious symbol, borne by Mary Magdalene, an icon saint of the Orthodox Church.
Dubbed “Saint Javelin”, the defender of Ukraine, he brands one of the missiles under a halo of the Ukrainian flag in yellow and blue.
As well as being a symbol of support by the United States, Ukraine’s most powerful ally against Russia, the spear is also prized by the military for its technical characteristics.
Equipped with two explosive charges, it can penetrate the world’s most sophisticated tanks, and in particular the Russian T-90, which has its own explosive armor reacting to the impact of the projectile to reduce or prevent penetrating the tank.
The Javelin’s first charge explodes upon contact with the tank, and then it releases a second, more powerful charge, which pierces the armor.
With a range of 2,500 meters (yards), it can be used to destroy a target in direct attack mode, or if fired overhead, to shoot down low-flying aircraft such as a helicopter. can be used for.
But it can also be used in indirect attack mode, from above: the missile rises to a height of 160 meters and then hits its target, like the spear of an ancient Roman army.
It is this trajectory from above that makes it such a formidable weapon against tanks, as the vehicles have their entrances facing upwards, and this is where they are most vulnerable.
Lighter than other anti-tank systems, which require a tripod, the javelin can be launched from a soldier’s shoulder.
The projectile is ejected a few meters from the launcher before the propulsion system is launched, making a soldier less easily identified and even allowing it to be used from inside a building. Meets.
A “fire and forget” type weapon, the target can be locked in place before firing and the missile is completely self-guided. The shooter can take cover before the missile hits the target.
According to a US soldier consulted by AFP, it is very easy to use.
“If you’ve played a video game, you can use it,” he said.
And unlike other missiles, which are usually disposable after use, the Javelin has a fire control unit equipped with GPS and an infrared camera with the ability to zoom in on the target, and which The bar is reusable.
It is on this unit that the disposable tube that holds the missile is attached.
The fire command unit is valuable because “you can use it without ammunition, to track and see the enemy”, said the US soldier.
Manufactured by American arms manufacturers Raytheon and Lockheed MartinAccording to the Pentagon’s 2021 budget, the Javelin is priced at $178,000, which includes the launch system and missiles.
Each replacement missile costs approximately $78,000.