[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] The 'Javelin' That Keeps Ukraine Holding On

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Yang Nak-gyu] Ukraine, ranked only 22nd in global military power, is receiving a steady stream of weapons capable of overpowering Russia. The secret weapon "Javelin," which is leaving Russia's armored and mechanized units?ranked 2nd in military power?helpless, is a prime example.

Oleksii Reznikov, Ukraine's Minister of Defense, stated on the 2nd (local time) via Facebook and Telegram, "We are receiving more and more assistance. More countries are providing support, and even countries that were considered unlikely to help are joining in," adding, "Additional Stinger missiles and Javelin anti-tank weapons will be arriving."

So far, 19 countries, including the United States, have either provided or expressed their intention to provide various weapons and military supplies to Ukraine. Unlike the Russian forces, which are struggling to maintain supply lines, the Ukrainian military's strength is gradually increasing. It is known that the Russian military is experiencing shortages of food and fuel as the battle drags on.

The U.S. government plans to provide an additional $350 million (approximately 420 billion KRW) worth of weapons to Ukraine, including Javelins. Germany has broken its principle of "not exporting weapons to conflict zones" and decided to send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine. France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, and Spain have also pledged military equipment support.

Among the supplied weapons, the FGM-148 Javelin plays a crucial role in countering Russia. Russia has mobilized all ground equipment such as T-72 and T-80 tanks and the TOS-1 "Buratino" multiple rocket launcher for its invasion of Ukraine, but it is helpless against the Javelin. The Ukrainian government claimed on the 2nd (local time) that it has inflicted damage on 211 tanks, 862 armored vehicles, and 355 military vehicles.

The Javelin is equipped with autonomous guidance systems. After firing the warhead at a range of 2.5 to 5 km, it automatically tracks and hits the target using infrared equipment. It can penetrate armor up to 600 to 800 mm thick, making its destructive and lethal power top-notch. Because it does not produce backblast when firing, it can be launched indoors. It can be used not only against tanks and armored vehicles but also against aerial targets such as helicopters. For this reason, frontline Ukrainian soldiers reportedly call it the "Holy Javelin."