Javelin Anti-Tank System: What Are Its Features? Key details on India’s plan to sign $45.7 million deal with US | Today’s news
India is set to acquire the US-made Javelin anti-tank missile system, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Friday, signaling a potential boost in defense ties between Delhi and Washington. The proposed sale of the Javelin system to India is valued at $45.7 million, according to the Hindustan Times.
“BIG news! India plans to buy battle-proven Javelin anti-tank system,” Gor said in a post on X.
Gor also cited US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s remarks at the May 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue in which he said the planned acquisition could pave the way for India and the US to jointly manufacture the Javelin system as defense ties between the two countries reach “record highs”.
“As @secwar emphasized at the Shangri-La Dialogue in May 2026, this is a great step forward in the US-India defense relationship and opens the door to co-production opportunities. Engagement between our two nations is at an all-time high!” Gor further stated.
Javelin Anti-Tank Missile System: Key Features
The Javelin is a man-portable anti-tank missile system developed jointly by Lockheed Martin and RTX to destroy armored vehicles. According to ANI, it was widely used by the US military and allied forces.
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The system is designed to be shoulder-fired and has automatic guidance capabilities that allow the missile to track and hit its intended target after launch. This allows the operator to move to a safer position and reduce the risk of enemy counterfire. Soldiers can also change positions after firing or reload the system to engage a different target.
The missile is designed to follow the flight path of the upper attack, rising above the target before hitting its more vulnerable upper armor. The operator identifies and selects the target using the cursor, after which the command launcher sends a lockout signal to the missile before firing.
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Another key feature is its soft-launch capability, which allows the Javelin to be launched from enclosed spaces such as buildings and bunkers without exposing the operator to the hazards associated with launching conventional missiles.
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The system was developed for the US Army and Marine Corps and is manufactured by the Javelin Joint Venture, a collaboration between Lockheed Martin’s Orlando, Florida plant and Raytheon’s Tucson, Arizona operation.
100 missiles, 25 launchers and more
The development comes as India continues to increase purchases of US defense equipment. In November 2025, the US State Department approved a possible US$93 million deal with India for up to 100 Javelin systems and 216 Excalibur precision-guided artillery projectiles.
India is already equipped with Excalibur ammunition for its M777 howitzers.
Last year, India and the United States signed a framework for an enhanced defense partnership aimed at improving interoperability across domains including land, sea, air, space and cyber. Over the years, India has also acquired several US defense systems such as Apache and Chinook helicopters, C-17 and C-130J transport aircraft, P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft and M777 howitzers.
The US Defense Cooperation Agency (DSCA) welcomed the proposed Javelin sale to India in November, saying the deal would strengthen Washington’s foreign policy and national security interests. According to the agency, the agreement would deepen the strategic partnership between the US and India while strengthening the security of a key defense partner that plays an important role in promoting political stability, peace and economic development in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia.
“The Government of India has requested the purchase of one hundred (100) FGM-148 Javelin rounds; one (1) fly-to-buy Javelin FGM-148 missile; and twenty-five (25) Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Unit (LwCLU) or Javelin Block 1 Command Launch Unit (CLU),” DSCA said in a statement.
The agency said the proposed package would also include several components and support services outside of MDE (Major Defense Equipment). These include Javelin LwCLU or CLU Basic Skills Trainers, missile simulators, a battery cooling unit, technical assistance from the Security Assistance Management Directorate, and other logistical and programmatic support.
