US sees major Javelin push in India as Tata, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin sign MoU

Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV), a partnership between Raytheon, an RTX business, and Lockheed Martin, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to co-produce the Javelin All Up Round (AUR) in India.According to Lockheed Martin, TASL has been selected as the JJV's prime Indian partner for future in-country co-production. The two sides will explore setting up a facility in India for the final assembly and integration of the Javelin missile, along with production of some components.The agreement comes days after the Indian Army has finalised a Rs 292-crore government-to-government deal with the United States to acquire around 60 Javelin anti-tank guided missiles.The deal comes under the Army's sixth emergency procurement window and follows efforts to strengthen critical battlefield capabilities after Operation Sindoor.The Javelin is a man-portable, fire-and-forget, medium-range anti-tank missile designed to defeat armoured vehicles. The US army says the system can also be used against fortifications and other targets, giving infantry units a weapon that can be carried and operated close to the battlefield.One of the main advantages of Javelin is its fire-and-forget capability. The missile uses an imaging infrared seeker to guide itself after launch, allowing the operator to take cover or change position instead of continuously guiding the missile towards the target.The Javelin is produced by the Javelin Joint Venture between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.The system consists of a reusable Command Launch Unit (CLU) and the missile, which is carried in a disposable launch tube. The CLU provides the operator with day and night sighting capabilities and can also be used independently for battlefield surveillance.The acquisition will give the army access to a proven anti-tank system while India continues to develop its own indigenous man-portable anti-tank missile. Javelin will help strengthen the army’s anti-armour capability in the meantime, providing an operational system that can be deployed without waiting for the indigenous missile programme to mature.