The Indian Army has signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) to procure the Javelin anti-tank guided missile system from the United States under the American Foreign Military Sales process, marking a fresh step forward in bilateral defence cooperation between New Delhi and Washington.
Confirming the agreement on Friday, August 28, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the pact reflects a defence partnership that is “growing deeper, more capable, and more consequential.”
“The Javelin agreement demonstrates the depth of US support for the Indian Army and creates new opportunities for our defence industries to work together. We see tremendous potential for future cooperation that strengthens the defence industrial bases of both countries,” Gor added.
US State Department Had Cleared the Sale Earlier
The signing comes roughly nine months after the US State Department first cleared the potential sale of the Javelin system to the Indian Army, at an estimated cost of $45.7 million. The Javelin is already in service with the US Army and US Marine Corps, besides being used by numerous international customers.
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Designed to engage a wide range of targets, from armoured vehicles to fortified positions, the missile system is produced by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between RTX and Lockheed Martin. The development follows the 10-year defence framework that India and the US signed last year, aimed at deepening the two countries’ defence relationship.
“The landmark signature further strengthens the US-India Major Defence Partnership by demonstrating the depth of ongoing US support to the Indian Army. It also opens discussions on mutually beneficial co-production and additional opportunities to strengthen the defence industrial bases of both countries,” the US embassy said in a statement.