India to buy Javelin anti-tank missiles from US, says envoy

India plans to buy Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems from the United States, US Ambassador Sergio Gor said on Friday.

In a post on social media, Gor said the purchase was a “great step forward” in the US-India defence relationship and opened the door to co-production opportunities. “The engagement between our two nations is at record high levels,” he wrote.

New Delhi is yet to comment on Gor’s announcement.

The Javelin is a portable anti-tank missile that can be carried and operated by a single soldier. It uses a “fire-and-forget” system, allowing the missile to track and hit its target without further guidance from the operator.

The weapons system is used by the US military, its partners in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and some other countries such as Ukraine and Saudi Arabia.

The potential Javelin deal comes amid deepening defence relations between the two countries.

In October, India and the US signed a 10-year framework for “major defence partnership”.

The US had designated India as its “major defence partner” in 2016. In 2018, India was elevated to tier one of the Strategic Trade Authorisation, which allows New Delhi to receive license-free access to a range of US military and dual-use technologies.

Written by Anamika Pathak. Edited by Nachiket Deuskar.
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