New Delhi, 28 August (H.S.): India has signed an agreement with the United States to acquire the FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile system.

US Embassy spokesperson Dana Jie said here on Friday, “We can confirm that India has signed the Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the Javelin system.”

In a statement, the US Department of State welcomed the signing of the Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) by the Indian Army for the procurement of the Javelin anti-tank guided missile system under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process. It said the development reflected the enduring partnership between the US and Indian armed forces and would pave the way for future cooperation between the defence industries of the two countries.

With the signing of the agreement, India has become a customer for the Javelin system, an advanced, medium-range, fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile. The Javelin is used by the US Army, US Marine Corps and several international customers. It is designed to engage a range of targets, including armoured vehicles and fortified positions.

The Javelin system is manufactured by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between RTX and Lockheed Martin.

Earlier, US Ambassador Sergio Gor shared the development on social media, stating that India was set to acquire the combat-proven FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile system from the United States. He described the move as a major development in US-India defence relations.

“Big news! India plans to purchase the combat-proven Javelin anti-tank system. As US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said at the Shangri-La Dialogue in May 2026, this is a major step in US-India defence relations and opens the door to co-production opportunities. Cooperation between our two countries is at an all-time high,” Gor wrote on X.

The US statement referred to remarks made by the US Defence Secretary at the Shangri-La Dialogue in May 2026 and highlighted potential opportunities for co-production. It also cited the US approval in 2025 for an initial sale of Javelin missiles valued at approximately $45.7 million.

The development underscores the deepening strategic partnership between India and the United States and is expected to enhance India’s anti-armour capabilities while advancing the two countries’ objectives for joint defence manufacturing.

The statement said the signing marked a historic milestone that further strengthened the US-India Major Defence Partnership and demonstrated the depth of continued American support for the Indian military. It also creates additional scope for discussions on mutually beneficial co-production and for strengthening the defence industrial bases of both countries.

India is procuring the Javelin missiles through the US Foreign Military Sales process. The initial package includes 100 missile rounds, training equipment and launch units and is valued at $45.7 million.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar