Australia is adding more teeth to its arsenal. On August 19, Canberra officially requested the purchase of Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LwCLU) and related gear from the United States, a deal valued at $97.3 million.
Approved by the US State Department, the proposed sale signals yet another chapter in the rapidly tightening defense cooperation between Washington and one of its closest allies in the Western Pacific.
The request is straightforward but strategically loaded: 161 LwCLUs to bolster Australia’s anti-armor firepower.
For a country already modernizing across land, sea, and air, these portable missile launchers represent a step toward greater battlefield flexibility and a stronger deterrent against regional threats.
Javelins for the Frontline
The Foreign Military Sale (FMS) package goes well beyond the launchers themselves. Included are non-major defense items designed to make the Javelin system more effective in Australian hands. These range from training tools like basic skills trainers and missile simulation rounds to battery coolant units, spare parts, technical manuals, and system integration services.
Logistics and program support round out the package, ensuring the equipment stays combat-ready across its lifecycle.
The principal contractor is the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between RTX and Lockheed Martin that has been at the center of US and allied anti-armor modernization for years. Notably, the sale does not require additional US personnel to be stationed in Australia, keeping the focus on equipment and training rather than manpower.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), in notifying Congress of the deal, stressed the broader policy objectives at play.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States,” the agency said.
It framed Australia as a critical ally whose location and influence contribute directly to peace and stability in the Pacific. “It is vital to the US national interest to assist our ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability.”
The Javelin launch units are expected to sharpen Australia’s surface-to-surface missile capacity and strengthen its contribution to coalition anti-armor efforts.
At a time when Russia’s war in Ukraine has placed renewed focus on the battlefield role of portable anti-tank weapons, the sale underscores Australia’s intent to stay ahead of the curve in its own region.
This order builds on a smaller $6.3 million Javelin agreement already in place, which covers long-term system support and technical assistance. Together, the two packages move Australia closer to fielding a fully integrated Javelin capability across its ground forces.
Keeping the Skies Ready: The MC-55A Upgrade
The LwCLU deal is not the only recent US defense sale Australia is moving forward with. Just two weeks earlier, on August 6, the State Department cleared a separate $404 million foreign military sale for upgrades to the Royal Australian Air Force’s MC-55A fleet.
The MC-55A is a highly specialized aircraft designed for electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
The proposed “Baseline 2” upgrade will ensure the fleet remains viable against evolving threats and continues to contribute effectively to both national and allied operations.
The package includes both major and minor modifications, spare parts, consumables, and accessories. Repair and return support is built in, along with engineering, technical, and logistics services from both US government teams and contractors.
As with the Javelin deal, the sale does not require US personnel to be stationed in Australia.
L3 Harris Technologies has been named as the lead contractor, reflecting its long-standing role in high-tech defense modernization.
The DSCA again stressed that the sale aligns with US foreign policy goals.
“The proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability to maintain its fleet of MC-55A aircraft that enhances its ability to conduct effective air operations and supports US operations in the region,” the agency noted.
Importantly, the DSCA emphasized that the transaction would not upset the military balance in the region, signaling reassurance to other Pacific powers.
A Pattern of Big-Ticket Deals
The two approvals in August follow a string of major US arms sales to Australia in 2025.
In March, the State Department cleared a $91.2 million FMS for countermeasure systems and a separate package of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System-Alternate Warhead (GMLRS-AW) rounds. Then in June, a $2 billion sustainment and equipment deal for F/A-18F and EA-18G aircraft was authorized.
Taken together, the deals illustrate a clear pattern: the US and Australia are deepening interoperability and pushing to harden Australia’s defense forces across all domains—land with Javelins, air with MC-55As and fighters, and across the electronic spectrum with advanced countermeasures.