Javelin Joint Venture Doubled Missile Production Capacity
The venture expanded output to meet defense demand, impacting supply chain and equipment manufacturing lead times.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Manufacturing
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The Javelin Joint Venture has doubled its annual production capacity for complete missile rounds over the past two years. This ramp-up supports growing demand from the U.S. military and international customers for the 4 km-range tactical weapon system.
Why it matters
The increased production reflects a broader effort by defense primes to compress lead times for critical components through targeted facility investments. This shift changes how contractors must manage supply chain throughput to sustain higher output levels for long-term military contracts.
The joint venture has produced 55,000 Javelin missiles and 12,000 command launch units since the system launched. The recent expansion was supported by a $22 million investment by Raytheon in its Tucson, Arizona facility.
The players
Javelin Joint Venture
A collaborative enterprise between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon responsible for the manufacturing of tactical missile systems.
Raytheon
A major defense contractor and business unit of RTX Corporation specializing in advanced missile and launcher manufacturing.
Lockheed Martin
A global aerospace and security firm providing advanced defense technology and missile assembly systems.
The details
The production surge was achieved by accelerating throughput on existing assembly lines and prioritizing long-lead parts. Lockheed Martin also invested in upgrading factory equipment to streamline the assembly process. Additionally, the program introduced the Lightweight Command Launch Unit, which is 30% smaller and 25% lighter than legacy models, to improve portability and operational efficiency for end users.
Timeline
May 2023: Initial contract awarded.
May 2025: Follow-on production contract secured.
May 2026: First Lightweight Command Launch Units delivered to the U.S. Army.
October 8, 2026: Production capacity milestone announced.
End of 2026: Expected completion of new test stations.
Market Landscape
This production ramp-up follows the pattern of federal efforts to increase surge capacity within the defense industrial base. It marks a significant shift from steady-state production to high-volume manufacturing necessitated by current global procurement demands.
Operators in the defense supply chain should monitor the compression of lead times for long-lead components as prime contractors upgrade their testing infrastructure. Reviewing your capacity to scale output alongside these prime contractors is essential to maintaining your position in the tier-one supply network.
The takeaway
Manufacturing resilience relies on investing in test station capacity as much as raw assembly throughput. Track the completion of test facility upgrades by the end of 2026 as a key indicator of when the full benefit of this production expansion will be realized in the supply chain.
What happens next
The program is scheduled to complete the installation of critical test stations by the end of 2026, which is expected to support the ongoing upgrade of 16 additional units.
Further reading
For broader trends in sector throughput, see Manufacturing.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Defence Blog.
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