India to buy Excalibur and Javelin systems as US clears USD 93 million defence package

The United States has approved the sale of Excalibur guided artillery projectiles, the Javelin anti-tank missile system and related equipment worth nearly USD 93 million to India.

The US said the proposed sale will strengthen India’s defence capability and help deter regional threats.

This will be India’s first major purchase of US defence equipment after President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent in August following India’s purchases of Russian oil.

According to the Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale of Excalibur Projectiles and related equipment for an estimated USD 47.1 million, and of the Javelin Missile System and related equipment for an estimated USD 45.7 million. The required certification has been delivered to Congress.

The DSCA said the sale supports US foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening the US-India strategic partnership and improving the security of a “major defence partner”, which it described as an “important force” for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.

India has requested to buy up to 216 M982A1 Excalibur tactical projectiles. Non-major defence equipment items in the package include ancillary items; Portable Electronic Fire Control Systems with Improved Platform Integration Kits; primers; propellant charges; US government technical assistance; technical data; repair and return services; and logistics and programme support.

On the Excalibur sale, the agency said it will improve India’s ability to meet current and future threats by providing precision equipment that increases first-strike accuracy for its brigades.

India has also requested to buy 100 FGM-148 Javelin rounds; one FGM-148 missile as fly-to-buy; and 25 Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units or Block 1 Command Launch Units.

Non-major defence equipment items listed include missile simulation rounds; battery coolant units; interactive electronic technical manuals; operator manuals; refurbishment services; and logistics and programme support.

The DSCA said the Javelin system sale will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen homeland defence and deter regional threats.

For both sales, it said India will have no difficulty absorbing the systems into its armed forces and that the proposed sales will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

RTX Corporation, based in Arlington, Virginia, will be the principal contractor for the Excalibur projectiles. The agency said it is not aware of any offset agreement at this stage, and any such arrangement will be defined in negotiations between India and the contractor.

It added that implementation of the sale will not require additional US government or contractor personnel in India and will not affect US defence readiness.

The Javelin missile system will be supplied by an RTX Corporation/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture based in Orlando, Florida, and Tucson, Arizona.

(With inputs from agencies)