New Delhi: The Indian Army has signed a letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) to purchase the US-made Javelin anti-tank guided missile system through the US foreign military sales (FMS) process. The US embassy in New Delhi welcomed the agreement on Friday, confirming that the procurement had moved ahead from an earlier American approval for a possible sale.
The final number of missiles and launch units being purchased, as well as the value of the signed agreement, have not been publicly disclosed.
Under the FMS system, the LOA is the government-to-government agreement through which the US provides defence articles and services to a foreign partner.
What the Javelin brings to the Army
The Javelin is a medium-range, man-portable, fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile produced by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between RTX and Lockheed Martin.
The system is primarily designed to engage tanks and other armoured vehicles, but can also be used against fortified positions such as bunkers. Its fire-and-forget guidance allows the missile to track a designated target after launch, enabling the operator to move or take cover instead of continuously guiding the weapon.
The system consists of a reusable command launch unit and a missile housed in a disposable launch-tube assembly. It can be carried and fired by dismounted troops, giving infantry units a portable anti-armour capability.
The Javelin can use a top-attack profile against armoured vehicles and a direct-attack mode against other targets. It is already in service with the US Army, US Marine Corps and several other militaries.
US welcomes Indian Army signing
The US embassy said the Indian Army’s signing of the LOA reflected the continuing partnership between the two countries’ armed forces and created new opportunities for their defence industries to work together.
The US ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, said the agreement reflected a defence partnership becoming “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,” Gor said.
Earlier on Friday Gor had said in a post on X that the planned purchase could open the door to co-production possibilities.
Future co-production remains possibility
The procurement agreement does not amount to an India-US agreement to manufacture Javelin missiles jointly.
The US embassy said the signing “opens discussions on mutually beneficial co-production” and creates additional opportunities to strengthen the defence-industrial bases of both countries.
No details of a proposed production arrangement, Indian industrial partner or manufacturing schedule have been announced.
The acquisition through the FMS route is confirmed, while any co-production arrangement would require further discussions and agreements.
Earlier US approval covered possible $45.7 million package
The latest agreement follows a US state department decision in November 2025 approving a possible foreign military sale of Javelin systems and related equipment to India.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) told the US Congress at the time that India had requested 100 FGM-148 Javelin rounds, one additional fly-to-buy Javelin missile and 25 Lightweight Command Launch Units or Block 1 Command Launch Units. The proposed package was estimated at $45.7 million.
It also included training equipment, spare parts, technical assistance, system integration and logistics support.
RNA Media had earlier reported on the November 2025 US approval for the proposed Javelin package.
Those figures should not be treated as the confirmed quantity or value of the agreement now signed by the Indian Army. The DSCA notification said the figures represented the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on India’s initial requirements and that the final value could change depending on requirements, budget authority and the eventual agreement.
Neither the US embassy announcement nor subsequent public reporting on Friday disclosed whether the final LOA retained all the quantities contained in the November notification.
The signing therefore confirms the Army’s procurement of the Javelin system after the earlier US approval, while the precise scale and value of the final purchase remain to be officially disclosed. Any move towards producing the system in India would require separate discussions and further agreements.