India signs deal with US to buy Javelin anti-tank missile systems

The Indian Army has signed an agreement with the United States to purchase FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile systems, the US Embassy in India said on Friday, without disclosing the value of the deal.

The medium-range guided missile system, jointly produced by Lockheed Martin and RTX (formerly Raytheon), is a fire-and-forget weapon designed for use against a range of targets, including armoured vehicles, the embassy said, adding that the missile system is already in service with the US Army and Marine Corps, as well as several international customers.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor said in a statement that the agreement creates new opportunities for the defence industries of both countries to work together.

“This agreement reflects a defence partnership that is growing deeper, more capable, and more consequential,” he was quoted as saying. “We see tremendous potential for future cooperation that strengthens the defence industrial bases of both countries.”

New Delhi was not immediately available for comment on the agreement.

According to Lockheed, the missile system features an “arched top-attack profile”, with the missile itself flying above its target before striking it from the top, delivering damage where the armour is weakest.

The manufacturer dubs it “the world’s premier shoulder-fired anti-armour system”.

India is the world’s fifth-largest military spender and the second-largest arms importer after Ukraine, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. India and the US signed a 10-year defence framework agreement in October.

Although ties between the countries have deteriorated in recent months, with Washington imposing high tariffs on Indian goods, punishing New Delhi for purchasing Russian oil and engaging closely with Pakistan, the defence relationship has remained unaffected.

In July, New Delhi approved the purchase of a range of military equipment for its defence forces worth $5.46 billion, including missiles, electronic warfare systems and Kamikaze drones.

The acquisition was approved “in principle” by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) comprising top military officers and headed by the defence minister, according to a government statement.

The statement said the estimated cost of the deal would be about INR520 billion.

It did not specify the period over which the acquisitions would be made or whether the systems approved for purchase would be imported or domestically produced.