India signs deal with US to buy Javelin anti-tank missile systems - Reuters

**India Signs Deal with the United States to Procure Javelin Anti‑Tank Guided Missile Systems** *New Delhi, 28 August 2026* – The Ministry of Defence confirmed that India has concluded a purchase agreement with the United States for the delivery of Raytheon‑produced Javelin anti‑tank guided missile (ATGM) systems. The contract, valued at roughly **$2.4 billion**, calls for the acquisition of **5,200 Javelin launch units** and an equivalent stockpile of missiles, with the first batch slated for delivery by the end of fiscal year 2027. U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor highlighted the deal as a “step forward” in bilateral defence cooperation, noting that the Javelin’s fire‑and‑forget capability will bolster the Indian Army’s anti‑armor and infantry support assets across the nation’s northern and eastern fronts.

The procurement arrives at a time when New Delhi is intensifying its modernisation drive in response to evolving security challenges along its borders, particularly the growing presence of Chinese mechanised formations in the Himalayas. Analysts view the Javelin purchase as a complement to India’s indigenous efforts under the “Make‑in‑India” programme, providing an off‑the‑shelf solution that can be rapidly fielded while domestic long‑range ATGM projects mature. The deal also reinforces the broader strategic partnership forged after the 2022 U.S.–India Defence Trade and Technology Initiative, which has seen increased joint exercises, intelligence sharing, and cross‑service interoperability between the two armed forces.

A key component of the agreement is a **technology‑transfer and industrial‑offset package** that obligates Raytheon to establish a production line for key Javelin subsystems in India, overseen by Indian defence public‑sector undertakings. The offset clause, estimated at **30 percent of the contract value**, is intended to cut procurement lead‑times, develop local expertise in fire‑control software, and create up to 1,200 skilled jobs. Defence officials say the partnership will also open avenues for future co‑development of next‑generation missile technologies, positioning India to become a regional hub for advanced anti‑armor systems.