President Biden visited a Lockheed Martin facility in Troy, Alabama, on Tuesday to highlight the production of Javelin anti-tank missiles being supplied to Ukraine, a key component in the country’s defense against the Russian invasion.
The visit underscored the administration’s commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s military capabilities, with Biden specifically thanking the workers at the Pike County plant for their role in manufacturing the weapons. “I came to say thank you,” Biden stated during remarks at the facility, recalling prior visits to conflict zones in Iraq and Afghanistan where he witnessed the impact of these systems. He described the atrocities and war crimes committed by Russian forces as “gut wrenching.”
The Javelin missile system, produced at the Troy facility, has been credited with playing a critical role in Ukraine’s initial defense against the Russian invasion in February 2022. According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who toured the plant earlier this year, the Javelin helped prevent the anticipated rapid takeover of Kyiv and the rest of Ukraine. “Most experts feared and believed that Russia would take control over Kyiv… That didn’t happen,” Stoltenberg said in a press release. “The Ukrainians were able to push back the Russian invaders, not least because they had the Javelins.”
Biden’s visit follows a recent $6 billion aid package approved by the Pentagon, which includes additional Patriot missiles for Ukraine’s air defense systems, alongside the Javelin anti-tank missiles. This aid builds upon a previously announced $61 billion package signed into law, with Biden noting that missiles manufactured in Alabama are among the weapons being sent to Ukraine.
The Lockheed Martin facility in Troy has been a focal point for international attention, with both Biden and Stoltenberg visiting the plant to acknowledge its contribution to Ukraine’s defense. Biden previously toured the facility in 2002. The ongoing production of Javelin missiles and other weapons systems at the Alabama plant continues to be a significant factor in the conflict, according to officials.
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