The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of Javelin anti-tank missiles and Excalibur guided artillery munitions worth $93 million to India.
According to the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), India requested up to 216 Excalibur tactical projectiles and 100 Javelin anti-tank missile units. India already deploys Excalibur artillery rounds in its M-777 Howitzer guns.
The principal contractors for the deal include RTX Corp for the Excalibur projectiles and its joint venture with Lockheed Martin for the Javelin systems.
Strategic and policy implications
The DSCA said the sale “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the U.S.-Indian strategic relationship.” It will also enhance the security of a major defense partner and promote stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.
This sale marks India’s first defense purchase under Washington’s foreign military sales program since tensions escalated in August, when former President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50% over New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil.
Earlier this month, India also reordered fighter jet engines from General Electric for its domestically produced Tejas combat aircraft. These moves indicate a gradual normalization and strengthening of U.S.-India military cooperation.
