The Indian Army has signed an agreement with the United States to acquire FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile systems, the US Embassy in India announced on Friday. The financial value of the agreement was not disclosed.
The medium-range guided missile system is jointly manufactured by Lockheed Martin and RTX, formerly known as Raytheon. It is a fire-and-forget weapon designed to engage various targets, including armoured vehicles. The system is already used by the US Army and Marine Corps, along with several international customers.
US Ambassador Sergio Gor said the agreement would open up further opportunities for defence industries in both countries to cooperate.
“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.”
Indian officials were not immediately available for comment.
According to Lockheed Martin, the Javelin uses an “arched top-attack profile”, allowing the missile to fly over its target before striking from above, where armour is generally weaker. The manufacturer describes it as “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 the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
The two countries signed a 10-year defence framework agreement in October. While bilateral ties have faced tensions in recent months due to US tariffs on Indian goods, Washington’s criticism of New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases and closer US engagement with Pakistan, defence cooperation between India and the US has continued.
In July, India approved the acquisition of military equipment worth $5.46 billion, including missiles, electronic warfare systems and Kamikaze drones.
The purchases were approved “in principle” by the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), which is headed by India’s defence minister and includes senior military officials.
A government statement estimated the overall cost of those acquisitions at around INR520 billion, but did not specify the timeframe for procurement or clarify whether the equipment would be imported or manufactured domestically.
