India to co-produce Javelin anti-tank missiles with US firms

The United States has confirmed that India intends to procure the FGM-148 Javelin, a fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system developed by the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV) between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. The announcement was made by U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on August 28, who described the move as a significant step in bilateral defence ties and hinted at future co-production opportunities.

The Javelin is a man-portable system comprising a Command Launch Unit (CLU) with day/night sights and a missile equipped with an imaging infrared seeker. The operator locks onto a target before launch, allowing the weapon to guide itself, which enables the user to relocate immediately after firing. It offers both top-attack and direct-fire modes, making it effective against armoured vehicles as well as fortified positions like bunkers and caves.

Having entered service in 1996, the system has seen extensive action in Iraq, Afghanistan, and most notably Ukraine, where it became a symbol of resistance against Russian armoured columns. The system has an operational readiness rate of 99% and a battlefield success rate of 94%, according to manufacturer data. It is expected to remain in U.S. military service until 2050.

For India, the key element of the proposed deal is the domestic assembly of the missiles. A memorandum of understanding between JJV and Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) outlines that Javelin All Up Rounds will be co-produced in India. U.S. facilities will manufacture critical sub-components—Lockheed Martin's Alabama plant will produce sub-assembly kits, while Raytheon's Arizona facility will make guidance electronics—before shipment to TASL for final integration.

The development comes after more than 15 years of negotiations over technology transfer and local manufacturing terms. India has maintained a mixed anti-tank arsenal, including limited stocks of Israel's Spike missile, while pursuing its own indigenous third-generation man-portable ATGM through the Defence Research and Development Organisation. Defence analysts note that this acquisition signals a pragmatic choice to meet urgent operational needs, though it may cast a shadow over the country's domestic missile development programme.