India, US seal Rs 292-crore deal for Javelin anti-tank missiles

India and the United States have finalised a deal worth around Rs 292 crore for the procurement of Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems for the Indian Army, adding a potent man-portable weapon to its armoury. The Indian Army has signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) with the US government for the acquisition through Washington’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. The purchase is being undertaken through the Army’s emergency procurement mechanism, which allows the armed forces to meet urgent operational requirements through acquisitions within delegated financial limits.

Army gets fire-and-forget weapon

The FGM-148 Javelin is a shoulder-launched, medium-range anti-tank weapon designed to destroy tanks and other armoured targets. Its principal advantage is its “fire-and-forget” capability.

After locking onto a target and firing, the missile guides itself, allowing the operator to immediately take cover or relocate rather than remain exposed while guiding it towards the target. The weapon can follow a top-attack trajectory, striking a tank from above where its armour is generally more vulnerable. It can also operate in direct-attack mode against other targets, including bunkers and fortified positions.

The Javelin has a maximum range exceeding 4.5 km and uses an imaging infrared seeker. Its soft-launch capability also allows it to be fired from enclosed or covered positions.

Limited procurement under emergency route

The exact quantities covered by the final agreement have not been officially disclosed. The US had earlier cleared a possible sale to India comprising 100 Javelin rounds, one additional fly-to-buy missile and 25 command launch units, along with training, simulation, spares and logistical support. That larger package had been estimated at $45.7 million. The quantities contracted under the latest approximately Rs 292-crore agreement are understood to be smaller than those covered by the original US approval.

The Army had previously been pursuing a requirement involving 12 launchers and 104 missiles under its emergency procurement process.

Long-pending Army requirement

India’s interest in the Javelin stretches back more than a decade and a half. Indian soldiers first fired the weapon during the India-US Yudh Abhyas military exercise in 2009.

Attempts to procure the system and explore technology transfer subsequently failed to produce a deal, while India also turned to Israel’s Spike anti-tank missile system to address immediate operational requirements.

The latest agreement consequently marks the first successful Indian Army procurement of the American Javelin system after years of negotiations and evaluations.

Co-production could follow

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor welcomed the agreement, describing it as another step in the expanding India-US defence partnership.

Washington has also indicated that the purchase could create opportunities for future collaboration between defence manufacturers in the two countries, including the possibility of Javelin co-production in India.

The missile is manufactured by the Javelin Joint Venture involving US defence majors Lockheed Martin and RTX.

The acquisition comes as India simultaneously advances its indigenous Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile programme, which has undergone developmental trials and is being prepared for induction into the armed forces.