Javelin

The Javelin was first built in Introduction Year::2751 by Stormvanger Assemblies as a recon 'Mech meant to be exported to the member-states of the Star League. A compromise between speed and firepower, the Javelin was fast enough to avoid engagements with heavier 'Mechs while still having sufficient firepower to dissuade pursuit. In particular the 'Mech's maneuverability meant that while its main function was to perform reconnaissance, the Javelin became adept at conducting ambushes, gaining a reputation for appearing out of nowhere and giving rise to the phrase "sneaky as a Javelin."

The Javelin had yet to be integrated into most SLDF regiments when the Amaris Civil War struck and Stormvanger Assemblies' factory on Caph was destroyed in 2774, ending all production of the Javelin design. Despite this, the Federated Suns - who had purchased the largest total number of Javelins from Stormvanger Assemblies - succeeded in their plans to incorporate the Javelin into practically all of their 'Mech regiments at the start of the First Succession War, where its appearance took many enemy combatants off-guard. Though employed to varying degrees by the other Successor States, the Javelin quickly became synonymous with the Federated Suns, often anchoring scout lances, or, in certain units, teaming up with other Javelins to create mobile fire support lances. Following the creation of the Federated Commonwealth, the design was upgraded with newly-recovered lostech during the latter part of the 3040s, and at the behest of AFFC High Command, Jalastar Aerospace began production of new Javelins in 3055. Since then, the sturdy and reliable scout 'Mech has continued to serve with distinction on the battlefield; though the original's level of armor protection has been deemed as insufficient by some, new variants continue to be introduced as technology progresses, ensuring its continued service towards the end of the thirty-first century.

Weapons and Equipment
The Javelin carries a limited weapons array consisting of two Arrowlite SRM-6 launchers, one each in the left and right torso along with one ton of ammunition per launcher, and no backup weapons. This makes the Javelin highly reliant on good supply lines and can hamper the 'Mech if it is forced into guerrilla combat, though with one ton of ammo per launcher it has sufficient endurance for most battles. As a close support 'Mech, it is highly adept at swooping in and helping deliver the final blow, especially as its scattering missiles can exploit and cripple exposed systems. However its light armor makes the Javelin ill-suited for hand-to-hand brawling. Notably, the Arrowlites' and their ammunition stores are placed so far forward in the 'Mech's torso that the Javelin has a front-heavy center of gravity, causing MechWarriors unfamiliar with the design's forward-lean while running to be prone to falling over while moving at high speeds in difficult terrain.

With a reliable GM 180 engine the Javelin benefits from a good cruising speed of 64 km/h while six Rawlings 95 jump jets - two in each leg and the remainder in the rear center torso - provided for good maneuverability and a total jumping distance of 180 meters. Four tons of armor allow it to survive most surprise encounters and retreat to safety, with a half-ton protecting the chest, side torsos and legs each. Ten heat sinks mounted in the engine are sufficient cooling for the 'Mech.

Variants

 * JVN-10A : Introduced in 2752, the 10A is a long-range harasser. Both SRM-6 racks are replaced by one LRM-15 in the right torso with one ton of reloads. BV (2.0) = 653


 * JVN-10F : The only Succession Wars variant, also known as the Fire Javelin, the 10F was introduced in 2819 and is the complete opposite of the 10N model as it removes both of the SRM-6 launchers in favor of four Medium Lasers. While less reliant on expendable ammunition stores, this variant is also more susceptible to overheating if the lasers are used simultaneously with the jump jets.  BV (1.0) = 702, BV (2.0) = 835


 * JVN-10P : The 10P model is an upgrade of the 10N model introduced by the Federated Commonwealth amid much secrecy in 3049. The 10P retains the armor and speed profile of the 10N, removes one of the SRM-6 launchers and replaces it with two Hovertec Streak SRM-2 launchers. While sacrificing slightly in terms of firepower, this variant is far more ammo-efficient than the original.  BV (1.0) = 514, BV (2.0) = 590


 * JVN-11A : The second version of the Javelin to carry the moniker of Fire Javelin, this upgrade of the 10F was introduced following the Clan Invasion in 3053 and mounts seven medium lasers, using double heat sinks to counter the massive amount of heat that can build up from using so many energy weapons. The conventional armor was also swapped out for Ferro-Fibrous and an additional ton added to increase the overall protection for the Javelin. This design was a field refit often seen after other units had cast off their old parts. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 1,073


 * JVN-11B : The 11B is a scout design introduced in 3054 that replaces the missiles launchers with twin SRM-4s so that it can mount a Beagle Active Probe and Guardian ECM Suite. Additional Ferro-Fibrous armor gives the 11B more than a forty percent increase in protection, while the inclusion of CASE necessitated dropping the jump jets and an upgrade to double heat sinks provides ample cooling. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 678


 * JVN-11D : The Javelin 11D model is an upgrade of the 10F introduced in 3062 and as such also arguably a Fire Javelin subtype. It carries three ER Medium Lasers and two Medium Pulse Lasers, mated to an advanced Targeting Computer as well as a Wunderland C3 slave unit. The engine has been upgraded to an extralight model and the structure has been replaced with an Endo Steel internal structure. This model was the main variant of the Javelin produced during the Jihad. BV (1.0) = 977, BV (2.0) = 1,104


 * JVN-11F : Also produced during the Jihad this variant was introduced in 3070 and removes the weapons and equipment of the 11D to carry a Snub-Nose PPC supplemented by two trios of Machine Guns, with each trio linked through a Machine Gun Array. This low-heat model is devastating to unarmored infantry, though it is less prevalent than the 11D within the AFFS. BV (1.0) = ??, BV (2.0) = 827


 * JVN-11P : Produced for the Filtvelt Coalition, this variant uses Ferro-Fibrous armor for protection, but to prevent overheating the ten single heat sinks it uses a quartet of Streak SRM-2s with a ton of ammunition. BV (2.0) = 680

Custom Variants

 * JVN-11D Javelin Farrell : This variant of the Javelin was used by Robert "Bob" Farrell, a MechWarrior who worked alongside the Bounty Hunter. This version removes the C3 Slave of the standard 11D and replaces it with a Clan-tech Active Probe. The weapons have been reworked as well. This version has three ER Medium Lasers and two Medium X-Pulse Lasers, all tied into a Targeting Computer. The armor, engine, and skeleton remain identical to a standard Javelin-11D. It has the Improved Communications and Unbalanced Design Quirks. BV (2.0) = 1,155

Apocryphal Variants
These variants were introduced in various apocryphal sources, and thus far have not appeared in any canonical media.

From MechWarrior Online:
 * JVN-HT Hi There! : While there are no indications that Fourth Deneb Light Cavalry MechWarrior "Wildman" Bill Wilkes piloted anything other than a standard and most likely JVN-10N variant, in MechWarrior Online the Hi There! Hero 'Mech features LosTech not commonly available during the Third Succession War. Mounting an 180 rated XL Engine and built on an Endo Steel chassis, MWO's Hi There! retains the 10N's classic torso SRM-6s and uses the extra weight to mount a pair of Medium Lasers in each arm. Aside from swapping the ten heat sinks for double strength versions, MWO's Hi There! features the same level of SRM reloads, armor coverage and jump jet capacity as the 10N.

Design Quirks
The Javelin has the following Design Quirk:
 * Unbalanced