The United States has approved the sale of Javelin anti-tank missile systems and Excalibur guided artillery munitions to India in a deal worth $93 million. The U.S. State Department has given the green light to the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to India, which includes the transfer of Excalibur tactical projectiles and related equipment valued at $47.1 million, and Javelin missile systems and associated hardware estimated at $45.7 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the proposed sales.
The deal includes 216 M982A1 Excalibur tactical projectiles and 100 units of the Javelin system. The Javelin systems include 100 FGM-148 Javelin missiles and 25 lightweight command launch units. Non-MDE (major defense equipment) items to be included in the Excalibur sale are ancillary items, Portable Electronic Fire Control Systems (PEFCS) with Improved Platform Integration Kit (iPIK), primers, propellant charges, US Government technical assistance, technical data, repair and return services, and other related elements of logistics and programme support. RTX Corporation will be the principal contractor for the Excalibur projectiles. The Javelin systems are jointly produced by RTX and Lockheed Martin.
The DSCA stated that the proposed sale would support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by strengthening the U.S.-Indian strategic relationship and improving the security of a major defense partner. The agency also affirmed that the sale would not alter the basic military balance in the region. According to the DSCA, the sale will improve India's capability to meet current and future threats by providing precision capability equipment, which will increase first strike accuracy of its brigades. The US government added that India would "have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces".
India already uses the Excalibur artillery ammunition in its M-777 Howitzer guns. In 2019, the Army had procured around 600 rounds of the Excalibur. The ammunition can be fired from all 155 mm guns in the Army's inventory, including Bofors, M777 Howitzer, K9 Vajra and Dhanush artillery guns. The Excalibur munitions, with a 40-km range, proved very effective. The fresh supply will replenish stocks. The Javelin systems, jointly produced by RTX and Lockheed Martin, allow infantry units to strike armoured targets.
This purchase of U.S. defense equipment is India's first under Washington's foreign military sales program since ties soured in August after the previous administration doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50%. This approval comes after a recent re-order of fighter jet engines made by General Electric to power more of India's home-produced Tejas combat aircraft.
