 "How US Javelin missiles, Excalibur projectiles will be a game changer for the Indian Army")
The United States’ approval for India to acquire the FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system and M982A1 Excalibur precision artillery rounds marks one of the most significant enhancements to the Indian Army’s firepower in recent years.
The combined packages, worth an estimated $92.8 million, reflect the converging defence priorities between New Delhi and Washington, while also supporting India’s long-term plans for self-reliance in advanced munitions.
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) submitted the mandatory notifications to US Congress, confirming two separate Foreign Military Sales (FMS) proposals that cover advanced munitions, associated equipment, training, and sustainment elements.
The DSCA stated that the sale would contribute to Washington’s foreign policy objectives by reinforcing ties with New Delhi.
As part of the notification, the DSCA highlighted the strategic relevance of India in the region by noting that the proposed transfer would “improve the security of a major defence partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.”
The certification documents also stress that the acquisition will bolster India’s ability to manage threats across its borders.
The DSCA’s assessment said, “The proposed sale will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defence and deter regional threats. India will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
The agency clarified that “the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” and that the transaction will have no impact on US defence readiness.
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View AllWhat India is receiving under the Javelin package
The Javelin-related FMS case approved for India is valued at around $45.7 million and covers both munitions and launch units.
The package includes FGM-148 missiles procured under a fly-to-buy arrangement and up to 25 Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LwCLU) or Block 1 Command Launch Units (CLU).
These optics and guidance systems are critical to the missile’s fire-and-forget capability and allow teams to retain the CLU even as missiles are cycled.
India is also receiving a range of non-major defence equipment intended to support training, exercises, and sustainment.
According to the DSCA, this comprises skills trainers, simulation rounds, battery coolant units, electronic technical manuals, operator guides, physical security inspection components, system integration and checkout assistance, technical support from the Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions (TAGM) Project Office, tool kits, refurbishment services for Block 1 CLUs, and other logistical elements required to keep the system operational across its lifecycle.
These items ensure that Army units will not only possess the missiles and launchers but also the maintenance, documentation, and training infrastructure needed for continuous deployment.
Last month, the Indian government reportedly submitted a Letter of Request seeking permission for co-production of the FGM-148 Javelin in India.
Why the Javelin is a major addition for Indian infantry
The Javelin ATGM occupies a different niche from India’s existing anti-tank systems. It is a third-generation, shoulder-launched, man-portable guided missile that can be employed from confined spaces due to its soft-launch mechanism.
Its imaging-infrared seeker enables independent homing once fired, allowing operators to take cover immediately.
The selectable flight profiles — direct attack for bunkers and fortifications, and top-attack for armoured vehicles — give infantry flexibility against a range of threats.
The top-attack mode is especially important in modern armoured warfare because it targets the relatively thinner armour on the upper surfaces of tanks.
Its tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead is designed to defeat explosive reactive armour, which is increasingly common on contemporary main battle tanks.
These characteristics have been repeatedly validated through operational use, including documented engagements by Ukrainian forces against Russian armoured units.
How the Javelin fits into India’s ATGM ecosystem
India has multiple anti-tank missile programmes and acquisitions in various stages of maturity. The DRDO-developed Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) has made progress in testing but is yet to achieve volume induction and production scale.
The Nag missile family provides heavier options for vehicle-mounted and helicopter-launched roles, leaving a gap in the easily deployable, shoulder-fired category.
Also, integrating Javelin teams with drone units — such as those using the Ashni series — can reduce the time between target detection and engagement.
The Indian Army’s Bhairav rapid-action units and similar formations designed for decentralised operations also benefit from a lightweight anti-armour capability that can move quickly without dependence on heavier platforms.
India began acquiring limited stocks of Israeli Spike ATGMs from 2019 onwards under emergency procurement provisions. These filled urgent requirements but did not result in standardisation across infantry battalions.
The Javelin acquisition provides an immediately available, battle-proven, and easily portable system for frontline forces.
How the Excalibur artillery sale helps India
Alongside the Javelin package, Washington has approved a second case valued at approximately $47.1 million covering the M982A1 Excalibur precision-guided artillery round.
Under this request, India may acquire up to 216 tactical projectiles.
DSCA documents note that the package includes ancillary items such as Portable Electronic Fire Control Systems (PEFCS) equipped with Improved Platform Integration Kits (iPIK), primers, propellant charges, technical data, maintenance support, and logistics.
Originally designated XM982 during development, the Excalibur is a 155 mm extended-range precision-guided artillery munition jointly developed by the US Army Research Laboratory and ARDEC.
It is manufactured by Raytheon Missiles & Defense, along with BAE Systems Bofors and other industrial partners.
Excalibur uses a combination of GPS and inertial navigation systems, enabling exceptionally precise engagement of targets.
Multiple publicly available assessments place its circular error probable (CEP) at around two metres, giving artillery units the ability to destroy point targets at long distances while minimising collateral damage.
Its guidance system is designed to maintain accuracy even when GPS access is degraded.
When fired from standard 155 mm howitzers, Excalibur rounds can reach distances of approximately 40 kilometres.
Excalibur rounds are broadly compatible with Nato-standard 155 mm artillery systems, including those in India’s inventory such as the M777 ultralight howitzer and other upgraded platforms.
For the Indian Army, Excalibur offers an opportunity to significantly expand precision-strike capacity without adding new artillery platforms.
In mountainous terrain, where line-of-sight limitations often restrict conventional artillery, precision-guided rounds can strike protected positions, supply nodes, or command locations with minimal adjustment.
India has spent years modernising its 155 mm artillery stock, inducting towed, mounted, and lightweight gun systems. Precision rounds like Excalibur fit naturally into this upgrading cycle by maximising the lethality of existing guns.
Precision-guided munitions also help conserve ammunition in high-altitude conflict zones, where logistics chains are often stretched.
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