Procurement: February 7, 2002

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Lithuania has become the first foreign customer to buy the US-built Javelin anti-tank missile. The initial deal includes 10 launchers and 60 missiles for $9.6 million. These will go to the Grand Duke Algirdas Motorized Infantry Battalion, which is being reorganized by Danish advisors into a NATO-compatible unit. The missiles are due for delivery in 2004 but the Lithuanians have asked if they could have weapons from active US stocks as early as October of 2002. This is an important win for Javelin; it lost competitions in Finland and the Netherlands to the Israeli Gill/Spike missile. Norway, Canada, and the UK are holding their own competitions between Gill/Spike and Javelin. Jordan selected the Javelin a few days after the Lithuanians. Jordan will pay $12 million for 30 launchers and 110 missiles.--Stephen V Cole