The United States has approved two major defense sales to India worth a combined $92.8 million, strengthening the growing defense partnership between the two nations. The proposed sales include Javelin anti-tank missiles and Excalibur guided artillery munitions designed to improve India’s tactical and long-range strike capabilities.
Under the first package valued at $45.7 million, India has requested one FGM-148 Javelin fly-to-buy missile, 100 tactical Javelin rounds, and 25 command launch units (CLU), including Block 1 versions. The package also includes CLU trainers, missile simulators, battery coolant units, and other operational support. The Javelin system offers infantry forces a reliable fire-and-forget weapon capable of neutralizing armored vehicles and fortified targets at distances of up to 4 kilometers.
The second approval worth $47.1 million covers as many as 216 Excalibur M982A1 artillery projectiles. The sale includes supplementary hardware such as portable electronic fire control units, integration kits, primers, and propellant charges. Excalibur is recognized for its GPS/INS-guided precision, enabling artillery units to strike strategic targets with an accuracy of around 2 meters, even at extended ranges.
According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, these potential sales will bolster India’s defense modernization efforts and deepen US-India defense cooperation. With Javelin’s advanced thermal targeting CLU—developed by the RTX and Lockheed Martin partnership—and Excalibur’s pinpoint accuracy, India stands to significantly increase its capability to confront armored threats and execute precision long-range missions.
