I MEF CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- With a price tag of over $100,000 per shot, firing the Javelin weapon system can be a rare event.Marines from 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment gave a demonstration of the capabilities of the newest shoulder-fired missile system recently.The Javelin weapon system locks onto the target before launch and automatically self-guides toward the target. It is intended to replace the Dragon system in the Marine Corps."The Javelin is fire-and-forget, while the Dragon is wire guided, so you have to track it the whole way," said Lance Cpl. David Evans, anti-tank assaultman, Weapons Company, 2nd Bn., 1st Mar. Reg. "It gives it more realism than just playing on the computer. Seeing the missile in action is a great confidence builder," said Evans."There is just not enough rounds to go around they cost so much," said Master Gunnery Sgt. Duane P. Siegmann, operations chief, 2nd Bn, 1st Mar. Reg. "Each round costs $105,000." The weapon can also be installed on tracked, wheeled or amphibious vehicles. It can be deployed and ready to fire in less than 30 seconds with a reload time of less than 20 seconds."It's a really excellent weapon system," said Evans. "I'm happy I got a chance to fire it."The range of the missile is 2,500 meters. The weapon has two attack modes, direct or top attack. The gunner selects direct attack mode to engage covered targets, bunkers, buildings and helicopters. In top attack mode, used against tanks the Javelin climbs above and strikes down on the target to penetrate the roof of the tank where there is the least armor protection.These capabilities give battalion commanders different choices in how to deploy the weapon. "All the 0351s(anti-tank assault Marine) are trained to fire it," said Siegmann. "In the battalion there are approximately 45."Out of approximately 45 Marines trained to fire the system Evans "was chosen because he had the most experience," said Siegmann. "He is a hard worker in the battalion and the company he came from."