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India could soon start making Javelin anti-tank missiles at home.
Tata Advanced Systems and the US-based Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Lockheed Martin and RTX, have signed an agreement to explore making Javelins in India.
So, what’s actually happening: this goes beyond India simply buying missiles from the US.
The two sides will explore setting up a facility in India to assemble Javelin missiles and make some of their components locally. The US would still supply some of the most important parts, including missile sub-assembly kits and guidance electronics. These would be sent to India, where the missiles could then be assembled.
In simple terms: the US supplies key technology, while India takes on a bigger role in making the weapon.
What is a Javelin: the Javelin is a shoulder-fired missile designed to destroy armoured vehicles.
It is “fire-and-forget”, soldiers can lock onto a target, fire the missile and move away without having to guide it manually. And the missile isn't the only important part. Soldiers use a reusable Command Launch Unit, or CLU, to spot and lock onto the target and fire the missile.
The Javelin Joint Venture has already made more than 55,000 missiles and over 12,000 CLUs. The system is used by the US and several other countries.
Why does this matter: India is already looking at a $45.7 million deal for 100 Javelins and launch units.
But the bigger story could be what happens after that. Instead of simply importing the weapons, India could gradually start making parts of the system at home, giving Indian defence companies a bigger role in the global Javelin supply chain.
That is significant because India has bought more than $22 billion worth of US defence equipment since 2002, but actual co-production and technology transfer have been relatively limited.
With the US and India now aiming for deeper defence cooperation over the next 10 years, the Javelin could be an early test of whether the relationship can move from “buying from the US” to “building with the US.”
Bhaskar English
