US greenlights Javelin missiles sale to African country
The US has given the green light to the sale of Javelin anti-tank missiles valued at $260 million, to Morocco, the Pentagon said on Tuesday. Washington previously struggled to replenish its supply of the weapons, having sent many to Ukraine.
Morocco has requested to buy 612 of the missiles, officially designated as FGM-148F, along with 200 Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units. The order also includes training, accompanying equipment, component parts, and support services, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO Ally that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa,” the DSCA stated.
If placed, the order will be filled by the Javelin Joint Venture, a co-production of Lockheed Martin and RTX Corporation. The DSCA said there would be “no adverse impact on US defense readiness” as a result, suggesting that the missiles won’t come out of the US military stockpile.
Javelins were the first weapons system the US delivered to Ukraine in 2018. More missiles were subsequently sent to Ukraine after Russia launched its military operation in the neighboring state in February 2022.
By June 2022, around 7,000 missiles had been sent to Ukraine and the Pentagon was reportedly voicing concerns that the US military could run out of stock, as the defense industry was unable to keep up with the demand.
