The company said the past year has been dedicated to coordinating supplier actions, mitigating risks and making strategic investments. A key milestone was the completion of non-recurring engineering work across the supply base, including additional tooling, test equipment and expanded production space.
The Javelin programme relies on a network of nearly 100 part-level suppliers and 25 major subcontractors. These suppliers provide components ranging from propulsion systems and guidance electronics to smaller critical parts.
Each supplier required between eight and ten months to complete updates necessary for increased production output. This preparation enabled the acquisition of additional facilities, tooling and testing capabilities ahead of the planned production ramp.
“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, vice president of the Javelin Joint Venture and Lockheed Martin Javelin programme director. “This coordinated approach gives us confidence that the Javelin supply chain can sustain the accelerated production tempo now and support future mission requirements.”
The company highlighted collaboration as a central factor in managing supply chain pressures, particularly as suppliers support multiple high-volume defence programmes. Efforts have focused on maintaining strong partnerships and improving coordination across the supplier ecosystem.
“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, president of the Javelin Joint Venture and Javelin programme 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.”
Lockheed Martin said the production ramp has also supported long-term improvements, including increased use of automation and advanced forecasting tools. These measures are intended to provide suppliers with real-time visibility into demand and improve production planning.
The company added that investments are being directed toward facility upgrades and optimized production layouts to increase throughput and efficiency. These changes aim to support sustained high-volume production while maintaining quality and delivery timelines.
Looking ahead, the Javelin team is working to build a supply chain capable of adapting to demand spikes and future system variants. Plans include qualifying secondary suppliers for critical components and maintaining controlled lead times and inventory levels for essential materials.
The Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, said the current supply chain expansion positions the programme for long-term resilience. The effort is intended to support increased missile production rates expected later this year while maintaining operational reliability.
