US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor declared on Saturday that India will buy Javelin anti-tank systems from the United States.
The FGM-148 Javelin is a highly advanced American-made anti-tank guided missile system, developed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. As per reports, they have been used in Afghanistan and Iraq in more than 5,000 engagements.
"BIG news! India plans to buy the battle-tested Javelin anti-tank system. Just as @secwar highlighted at the May 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue, this is a great step forward in the U.S.-India defense relationship and opens the door to co-production possibilities. The engagement between our two nations is at record high levels!" Gor said on X.
In November last year, Washington's Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) confirmed that it had delivered the required certifications regarding the sale of 100 FGM-148 Javelin missiles, 25 lightweight command launch units, and 216 Excalibur artillery rounds. The first sale package, worth $45.7 million, will witness India getting Javelin FGM-148 fly-to-buy missiles, as well as 25 Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LwCLU) or Javelin Block 1 Command Launch Units (CLU), the DSCA said in a statement.
"The United States welcomes the Indian Army’s signing of a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the purchase of the Javelin anti-tank guided missile system through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales process. The milestone reflects the enduring partnership between the U.S. and Indian Armed Forces and opens the door for future collaboration between the U.S. and Indian defense industries," an official release by U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India said.
"The landmark signature further strengthens the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership by demonstrating the depth of ongoing U.S. support to the Indian Army. It also opens discussions on mutually beneficial co-production and additional opportunities to strengthen the defense industrial bases of both countries, it added."
Washington and New Delhi had signed a framework for a major defence partnership last year with the objective of "strengthening interoperability across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace," a report said.
The battle-tested Javelins
Javelin systems are advanced, medium-range, fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile. The Javelin is used by the U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, and numerous international customers and is designed for use against a wide array of targets, including armored vehicles and fortified positions.
Earlier in February this year, the US announced plans to pursue new procurements and co-production arrangements for Javelin anti-tank guided missiles to meet India's defence requirements. The man-portable, shoulder-fired, anti-armour system automatically guides itself to the target after launch, allowing the gunner to take cover and avoid counterfire.
According to Lockheed Martin, soldiers can reposition immediately after firing, or reload to engage another threat with the Javelin system. "Using an arched top-attack profile, Javelin climbs above its target for improved visibility and then strikes where the armour is weakest. To fire, the gunner places a cursor over the selected target," the profile of the weapon system on the Lockheed Martin website reads.
