India and the United States have taken another step forward in their defence partnership, with the Indian Army signing an agreement to acquire the US-made Javelin anti-tank guided missile system. The deal could also open the way for future co-production of defence equipment between the two countries.
The US Embassy in India announced on Friday, 28th August, that the Indian Army had signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the Javelin system under Washington’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described the agreement as an important development in the growing defence relationship between New Delhi and Washington.
BIG news! India plans to buy the battle-tested Javelin anti-tank system. Just as @secwar highlighted at the May 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue, this is a great step forward in the U.S.-India defense relationship and opens the door to co-production possibilities. The engagement between…
— Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) August 28, 2026
In a post on X, Gor said, “BIG news! India plans to buy the battle-tested Javelin anti-tank system.” He called the move a major step forward for the India-US defence partnership and said it could open the door to co-production possibilities.
“The engagement between our two nations is at record high levels,” he added.
Co-production possibilities
The US Embassy said the signing of the LOA opens discussions on mutually beneficial co-production and other opportunities that could strengthen the defence industrial base of both India and the United States.
While the embassy did not confirm whether the current agreement includes a co-production clause, the possibility of jointly producing defence equipment is now part of the discussions following the deal.
Gor said the agreement showed that the India-US defence partnership was becoming “deeper, more capable, and more consequential”.
“The Javelin agreement demonstrates the depth of US support for the Indian Army and creates new opportunities for our defence industries to work together,” he said. “We see tremendous potential for future cooperation that strengthens the defence industrial bases of both countries.”
India has not yet made an official announcement about the agreement.
What does the LOA mean
Under the US Foreign Military Sales process, the signing of a Letter of Offer and Acceptance is usually the final major step before payments are made, and deliveries begin.
The process generally starts with the buyer submitting a Letter of Request. The US government then reviews the proposal, secures the required approval and Congressional clearance, and issues the LOA. Once the buyer signs it, the agreement becomes a binding government-to-government deal, making it difficult and costly for either side to walk away.
Deliveries can begin relatively quickly if the manufacturer has existing stock. However, more complex defence platforms, such as fighter aircraft, can take several years to be delivered after an LOA is signed.
Deal follows US approval
The agreement comes after the US approved a proposed sale of Javelin anti-tank missile systems and Excalibur guided artillery munitions to India in November 2025.
Reuters had reported at the time that the US State Department approved a sale worth $93 million. The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said India had requested up to 100 Javelin systems and 216 Excalibur tactical projectiles.
Another report had said India was looking at buying 100 Javelin rounds and 25 launchers, while also exploring an agreement to jointly manufacture the missiles in India. Earlier reports had also put the potential Javelin sale at about $45 million.
The proposed sale was seen as important because it marked India’s first US defence purchase under the FMS programme after India-US ties came under strain in 2025.
The approval also came after India reordered General Electric engines for its indigenous Tejas fighter aircraft. The DSCA had said the proposed sale would strengthen the US-India strategic partnership and improve the security of a major defence partner in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia.
India already uses Excalibur artillery ammunition with its M777 howitzers.
What is the Javelin System?
Javelin is a portable, shoulder-fired anti-tank guided missile system designed to destroy armoured vehicles, including tanks, as well as fortified positions such as bunkers.
The system is made by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between RTX, formerly Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin. It is a medium-range, fire-and-forget weapon, meaning the operator does not have to keep guiding the missile after launch.
Using an infrared seeker, the missile tracks its target on its own, allowing the operator to move away or take cover after firing.
One of its key features is its top-attack capability, which allows the missile to strike armoured vehicles from above, where protection is usually weaker. It can also be used in direct-attack mode against certain targets.
The Javelin has been used by the US Army, the US Marine Corps and several other countries. It has also been used in several conflicts since the 1990s and gained attention during the Russia-Ukraine war, where Ukrainian forces used it against Russian tanks.
The United States has been trying to move forward with a Javelin deal with India since the Barack Obama administration. With the LOA now signed, the agreement marks a new step in defence cooperation between New Delhi and Washington, while also bringing the possibility of future co-production into focus.
