India Turns to US for Javelin Anti-Tank Missiles Amid Military Modernisation

India has signed an agreement with the United States to acquire FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems, marking a new step in the growing defence partnership between New Delhi and Washington.

The agreement was announced by the U.S. Embassy in India on Friday, August 28, with the Indian Army signing a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales programme. The financial value and exact number of missile systems involved were not immediately disclosed.

The Javelin is a shoulder-launched, man-portable anti-tank weapon developed and produced by a joint venture between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. It is designed to give troops the ability to engage armoured targets without relying on larger vehicle-mounted weapons.

The agreement represents another expansion of military cooperation between India and the United States, which have increasingly sought closer defence and strategic ties.

U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described the agreement as an important development in the bilateral defence relationship, while indicating that the deal could open the door to broader cooperation between the two countries’ defence industries.

The purchase also comes as India continues efforts to modernise its armed forces and strengthen its ability to respond to potential threats along its borders.

Beyond the immediate purchase, the agreement could eventually lead to Javelin co-production in India.

Indian and U.S. defence companies have previously explored the possibility of manufacturing the missile system locally. In February 2025, Bharat Dynamics Limited signed an agreement with the Javelin Joint Venture to explore production opportunities in India.

Such an arrangement would fit India’s broader push to expand domestic defence manufacturing and reduce reliance on imported military equipment.

The Javelin programme says the system has been procured by 25 countries, with more than 55,000 missiles and 12,000 reusable command launch units produced to date.

The Javelin is known as a “fire-and-forget” weapon, meaning an operator can launch the missile and then move rather than continuously guide it toward its target. It is designed to be operated by a single soldier and is intended primarily for use against armoured vehicles.

The weapon has also gained international attention because of its use by Ukrainian forces against Russian armoured vehicles during the war in Ukraine.

For India, acquiring the system provides another option for strengthening its infantry anti-armour capability, particularly in difficult terrain where larger anti-tank platforms may be less practical.

The Javelin agreement is part of a wider effort by India to expand and modernise its military capabilities while simultaneously increasing domestic production.

The deal also highlights the increasingly close strategic relationship between India and the United States, even as New Delhi maintains longstanding defence ties with other major powers.

For Washington, the agreement strengthens its position as an important defence supplier to India. For New Delhi, it provides access to a combat-proven anti-armour system while potentially opening opportunities for technology and manufacturing cooperation.

The two sides are expected to continue discussions on broader defence-industrial cooperation, including the possibility of producing Javelin systems in India.