Scaling Up Javelin Supply Chain: Redefining Ramped Missile Production

With the continued increase in global demand for the Javelin missile, Lockheed Martin has been working to ramp its yearly production capacity. A key component to ensuring a successful Javelin ramp has been preparing its robust supplier network for the impending increase in missile production.

The focus of the Javelin team for the last year has been on coordinated supplier actions, risk mitigation and strategic investments that keep the Javelin munition supply chain resilient under high-tempo pressure. A key milestone in this effort was the Javelin supply base completing their non-recurring engineering (NRE) efforts, which included additional tooling, test sets and floor space in some cases which creates a solid foundation for the full production ramp moving forward.

Javelin’s supply chain relies on a strong existing network of nearly 100 part-level suppliers and 25 major supplier subcontractors — everything from propulsion hardware to guidance electronics to many smaller components. Therefore, the supply chain ramp strategy focused on the increasing delivery of subcomponents to support the increased capacity.

Each supplier spent eight to 10 months completing the required updates to achieve the overall production ramp output starting later this year. This preemptive approach provided time to acquire the additional space, tooling and test equipment required to meet the increased demand.

“By engaging our suppliers early and investing strategically in capacity, we’ve been able to increase production while maintaining the quality standards our global customers expect,” said Rich Liccion, Javelin Joint Venture (JJV) vice president and Lockheed Martin Javelin program director. “This coordinated approach gives us confidence that the Javelin supply chain can sustain the accelerated production tempo now and support future mission requirements.”

Collaboration is the key to de-escalating supply chain stress. Many Javelin suppliers are also supporting other high-volume defense programs. With oftentimes collective supply chain stress levels high across the supplier ecosystem, the need for collaborative relationship management is essential.

“As we focus on scaling Javelin production to meet growing global demand, we continue to foster strong partnerships with our suppliers and the U.S. Army,” said Jenna Hunt Frazier, JJV president and Javelin program director at Raytheon. “By adopting advanced technologies like automation and AI-driven forecasting, we’re enhancing efficiency and building a resilient, future-ready supply chain to support mission success.”

The Javelin supply chain ramp has also allowed the team to come up with long-term solutions for continuous improvement and to ensure a sustainable supply chain flow is in place through the use of current practices and forward-looking goals. 

• Automation for future continuous improvement: The supplier ramp has generated an appetite for automation and other upgrades that the Javelin team are discussing in order to support high-volume production output more efficiently.
• AI forecasting tools: Recent upgrades to the various software and platforms give key suppliers real time insight into the program’s demand profile. This change moves the conversation from “order versus forecast” to a “shared demand horizon.”
• Future facility upgrades and expansion: Capital funding that the ramp has unlocked is being routed into staging facilities and refined production line layouts. Those upgrades lift throughput while increasing yield.

These insights reinforce a shift to a broader value creation mindset and allows suppliers to be more involved in those processes, forming resilient and reliable long-term partnerships.

Looking ahead, the Javelin team envisions a future Javelin supply chain that can absorb global demand spikes, support future Javelin model variants and withstand external shocks. 

Some best practices the team have determined include qualifying a second source for higher-risk components. By doing so, this guards against a single-point failure that could be triggered by export limitations or raw material scarcity, mitigating geopolitical supply constraints.

Another goal is to keep lead times under 52 weeks for all essential parts, with on hand stock of “energetic” or high-value items that can be drawn on when supplier capacity tightens.

Collectively, various actions like these would support a supply chain ecosystem that can scale rapidly, adapt to new missile configurations, and sustain high tempo production without sacrificing quality or schedule certainty.

The recent Javelin supply chain ramp illustrates how a mature, well-coordinated supplier network can be leveraged to meet ramped production milestones. The Javelin Joint Venture – a partnership between Raytheon, an RTX business, and Lockheed Martin – is positioning itself for long-term resilience, as Lockheed Martin looks to achieve its increased Javelin missile ramp rate later this year.

U.S. soldiers fire a Javelin. Photo courtesy of DVIDS (U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Anastasiya Ludchenko, Operations Group, National Training Center)