L AUNCH T UBE A SSEMBLY

5-136. The LTA houses the missile and provides the connection with the CLU. It serves as the missile's handling container and launch platform. The LTA (Figure 5-42) consists of a—

z Launch tube.

z Forward and aft end caps. z Carry handle.

z Shoulder strap. z Latch assembly. z Shoulder pad.

NOTE: Once the missile is launched, the LTA is discarded.

Figure 5-42. Launch tube assembly.

Launch Tube

5-137. The launch tube (Figure 5-42) is a single-piece, composite graphite/epoxy container that protects the missile from the environment before the missile is launched. All other LTA components mount externally onto this tube.

Forward and Aft End Caps

5-138. The forward and aft end caps (Figure 5-42) are designed to protect the missile from damage during transport and handling. Each has a foam shock absorber to protect the round from impact if it is dropped or otherwise abused. The end caps also provide stability and support when the round is strapped in vehicle transit racks or placed on the ground.

Forward End Cap

5-139. The forward end cap protects the missile from moisture, dust, and other potential problems.

NOTE: The forward end cap should not be removed unless the missile is to be launched,

and only after the CLU is connected to the round. If the missile is not launched, the gunner ensures that the round is free of foreign material and reinstalls the forward end cap to prevent missile damage.

Aft End Cap

5-140. The aft end cap is permanently attached to the LTA. During launch, the center of the cap is blown out by the blast of the missile launch motor.

Carry Handle

5-141. The carry handle (Figure 5-42) provides a convenient means for the gunner to lift and carry the round.

Latch Assembly

5-142. The latch assembly provides the electrical and mechanical connections between the round and the CLU (Figure 5-43). The latch assembly consists of the following component parts:

z Round hooks for securing the CLU to the LTA. z A latch release for securing the CLU to the LTA.

z An alignment fork for aligning the CLU to the latching mechanism.

z An alignment pin for maintaining alignment between the CLU and the LTA. z A CLU interface connector.

z A rubber boot for protecting the LTA's internal components from moisture. z A lanyard for securing the protective cover to the LTA.

z A protective cover for the CLU interface connector.

Round Hooks

5-143. The round hooks (Figure 5-43), two metal loops located at the front of the latch assembly, hook into the forks on the CLU interface bracket to secure the CLU to the round.

Latch Release

5-144. The latch release (Figure 5-43), a spring-loaded mechanism located at the rear of the latch assembly, engages the CLU interface catch to secure the CLU to the round.

Alignment Fork

5-145. The alignment fork (Figure 5-43) is a slotted metal device located behind and above the round hooks. As the gunner connects the CLU to the round, the alignment fork engages the alignment bar on the CLU. This guides the CLU into place to ensure proper engagement of the latching mechanism and the interface connectors.

Alignment Pin

5-146. The alignment pin (Figure 5-43) is a conical post located on the rear of the latch assembly, just below the latch release. It engages a hole in the round interface catch on the CLU to maintain mechanical alignment between the CLU and the round.

Command Launch Unit Interface Connector

5-147. The CLU interface connector (Figure 5-43), the counterpart to the round interface connector on the CLU, provides the electrical connections between the round and CLU. All signals between the CLU and round—missile control signals, squib firing signals, and seeker video signals—pass through this connector.

Rubber Boot

5-148. A rubber boot (Figure 5-43) located around the bottom of the CLU interface connector keeps water, dirt, and debris out of the round internal components.

Lanyard

5-149. The lanyard (Figure 5-43), a rubber cable secured to the latch assembly chassis below the latch release, secures the protective cover for the CLU interface connector to the LTA. The lanyard is equipped with a tab that lets the gunner move the protective cover when connecting the CLU to the round.

Protective Cover

5-150. The protective cover (Figure 5-43), an aluminum cap that attaches to the CLU interface connector, prevents dirt and debris from entering the CLU interface connector.

Shoulder Strap and Pad

5-151. The shoulder strap (Figure 5-42) adjusts for easy transport, and the shoulder pad allows the gunner to balance and support the Javelin when it is placed on the shoulder.

B

C

U

5-152. The BCU (Figure 5-44) cools and powers the missile. It consists of two sections: a battery section and a compressed-gas coolant section.

Figure 5-44. Battery coolant unit.

Battery Section

5-153. The battery section powers the missile electronics prior to launch.

Coolant Section

5-154. The coolant section cools the seeker to its operating temperature prior to missile launch.

NOTE: There are two interchangeable versions of the BCU—one with a solid heat shield

MISSILE OPERATION

5-155. The missile (Figure 5-45) carries all of the components necessary to deliver an HE shaped charge to the target. It acquires a selected target, tracks the target during flight, directs itself to intercept the target, and detonates the warhead on impact with the target. The Javelin missile consists of several sections:

z A guidance section. z A warhead section. z A mid-body section. z A propulsion section. z A control actuator section.

5-156. These sections work in unison from missile launch until target impact.

G

S

5-157. The forward section of the missile, the guidance section (Figure 5-45), provides target tracking and flight control signals. It includes the seeker head and the guidance electronics unit.

Seeker Head

5-158. The seeker head provides 9x magnification of the target scene (seeker FOV [Figure 5-46]) and creates an IR target image, similar to the NVS in the CLU. The seeker head houses the IR sight and the crush switch.

Infrared Sight

5-159. The IR sight, along with the guidance electronics unit and the control actuator section, gives the missile its fire-and-forget capability. It contains the optics and the DDC for seeker FOV.

Optics

5-160. The optics focus the incoming IR light onto the seeker DDC.

Detector Dewar Cooler

5-161. The DDC converts the IR light into an electrical signal. Then, it sends it to the CLU display through the CLU and round interface connectors. The display converts the electrical signals from the seeker into visible images (seeker FOV), which are sent to the gunner by the same path as NVS images (Figure 5-46).

5-162. After using NFOV to identify the target and determine whether or not it is engageable, the gunner activates the seeker to engage the target. Upon missile launch, the seeker FOV image is sent to the guidance electronics section. During flight to the target, the IR sight tracks the target and sends target location information to the guidance electronics unit.

NOTES: 1. The missile seeker's FOV is used only to lock the missile onto a target.

2. Images in seeker FOV have fewer details than images from the NVS. However, when you use seeker FOV, the gunner already knows what the target is, so target image details are not necessary.

Crush Switch

5-163. The crush switch begins the detonation sequence for the warhead when the missile impacts with the target.

Guidance Electronics Unit

5-164. The guidance electronics unit (Figure 5-47) serves the following functions: z Before missile launch, it communicates with the CLU by—

„ Sending video of the seeker FOV and messages about round status (BCU battery spent,

missile overheat, missile failure of BIT, misfire, and hangfire) to the CLU.

„ Responding to inputs from the GATE ADJ/CTRS & BRT switch, the ATTK SEL

switch, the seeker trigger, and the fire trigger.

z After lock-on, it continuously points the seeker at the target.

z After missile launch, it sends signals to the control actuator section to guide the missile to the target during flight.

Figure 5-47. Guidance section.

W

S

5-165. The warhead components (Figure 5-48) are located in the guidance section and in the mid- body section. The components include a precursor charge and a main charge.

Precursor Charge

5-166. The precursor charge counteracts the effects of reactive armor.

Main Charge

5-167. The main charge penetrates the main hull armor.