More Raytheon-made Javelins to go to Ukraine: Biden official

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden approved a $100 million transfer of Javelin anti-armor missiles to Ukraine on Tuesday, according to an administration official.

The Javelin, an anti-tank guided munition that can be carried and launched by a single person, is made in partnership by Raytheon Missiles and Defense — a unit of Boston-based Raytheon Technologies, parent of Collins Aerospace, Cedar Rapids’ largest employer — and Lockheed Martin.

The Javelin, according to a Raytheon website, “provides the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps and numerous international customers with a medium-range, ‘fire-and-forget’ missile for use against a wide array of targets including armored vehicles, bunkers and caves.”

The United States had shipped some 2,600 Javelins to Ukraine as of March 27, the New York Times reported.

This transfer brings the total of U.S. military assistance for Ukraine to $2.4 billion since Biden took office last January.

The White House announced late Tuesday that Biden approved the assistance, which is funded as part of a broader $13.6 billion in aid for Ukraine approved by Congress last month after Russia’s invasion.

The administration official confirmed that it was for a transfer of the Javelin missiles, which have been requested by the Ukrainian military to combat Russian armor.

The official spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter.

The Gazette contributed to this report.