New Delhi, Aug 28: India has signed an agreement with the United States to procure Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems for the Indian Army, in a move aimed at strengthening the force’s combat capabilities.
US Ambassador Sergio Gor said the agreement reflected a bilateral defence partnership that was becoming “deeper, more capable, and more consequential.”
The exact number of Javelin systems being procured and the overall value of the deal were not immediately known.
According to a US readout, the Indian Army has signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the procurement through the US Foreign Military Sales process.
The agreement marks another step in the growing defence cooperation between the two countries and could pave the way for greater collaboration between their defence industries, the readout said.
“The Javelin agreement demonstrates the depth of US support for the Indian Army and creates new opportunities for our defence industries to work together,” Gor said.
He added that there was “tremendous potential” for future cooperation aimed at strengthening the defence industrial bases of both countries.
The Javelin is a medium-range, fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile system designed to engage a range of targets, including armoured vehicles and fortified positions. It is operated by the US Army, US Marine Corps and several international customers.
The system is manufactured by the Javelin Joint Venture, comprising RTX and Lockheed Martin.
The US readout described the agreement as a significant step towards strengthening the US-India Major Defence Partnership. It also said the deal could lead to discussions on mutually beneficial co-production and other opportunities to expand cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries.
