The Indian Army has signed an agreement to purchase advanced Javelin anti-tank missile systems from the United States.
The US Embassy in India confirmed the agreement on Friday, according to a Reuters report. Although the embassy did not officially disclose the financial value of the deal, India’s Hindustan Times reported that the purchase is worth approximately $45.7 million.
What is included in the deal?
According to Hindustan Times, the US State Department approved the proposed sale of the anti-tank missile systems in November last year following a request from India.
Under the agreement, India will receive 100 FGM-148 Javelin missiles and 25 Lightweight Command Launch Units (LWCLU), along with training equipment and technical support.
The medium-range guided missile system, jointly manufactured by Lockheed Martin and RTX, is designed primarily to carry out precision strikes against armored vehicles and fortified positions.
The Javelin is currently used by the US Army and Marine Corps, as well as by several other countries.
Geopolitical tensions fail to affect military ties
India and the United States have experienced some tensions in recent months over Washington’s high tariffs on Indian goods, New Delhi’s purchases of Russian crude oil, and closer 6US ties with India’s long-time rival Pakistan.
However, Reuters reported that these geopolitical tensions have not had a negative impact on the military relationship between the two countries.
In October last year, India and the United States signed a 10-year defense framework agreement aimed at further deepening bilateral military ties.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described the Javelin agreement as a “major step” in strengthening military cooperation between the two countries.
In a message on X, he said the deal creates new opportunities for the defense industries of the two countries to work together and opens up significant potential for future cooperation.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India currently ranks fifth in the world in terms of military spending. It is also the world’s second-largest arms importer after Ukraine.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the agreement would strengthen the strategic relationship between India and the United States while contributing to political stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific and South Asian regions.
The Indian government has not yet issued an immediate comment on the deal.
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