Local MP Alan Mak has shown his support for the UK providing a portable weapon system which is helping Ukrainians defend themselves against Russian invaders.
He learned all about the Javelin anti-tank missile during a visit to the Lockheed Martin stand at DSEI 2023, a major global defence event that brings together contractors, governments and armed forces from around the globe.
The headquarters of the company's UK Rotary and Mission Systems division is at Langstone Park in Havant and staff there play a central role in delivering and maintaining customers' defence capability at home and abroad.
Javelin was originally developed and produced for the US Army and Marine Corps by a joint venture between Lockheed Martin in Orlando and fellow defence firm Raytheon in Arizona.
But the shoulder-fired missiles and command launch units have been supplied to Ukrainian troops since last year's Russian invasion and are credited with playing a crucial part in the defence of the country, particularly the capital Kyev.
The UK has sent a quantity of Javelin missiles and is the second-largest supplier of weapons and equipment to Ukraine behind America.
Mr Mak, who supports the actions taken by our Government to help Ukraine by providing military aid and imposing sanctions, said: "The UK is supporting Ukraine as it defends itself from Russia’s illegal invasion, and I’m proud that local defence firms are working with the British Army to provide the Ukrainians with the equipment they need such as the Javelin system.”
Javelin's battle-proven capabilities in Ukraine as a 'fire-and-forget' precision anti-armour weapon that can lock on to its target mean that there is now an increased demand around the world to use it to deter and deal with threats.
The Javelin has entered service with the British Army, while 13 European countries have placed orders and they are now also being used in the Indo-Pacific region, the Middle East and North Africa.
