The United States has cleared a new $93 million weapons package for India, paving the way for New Delhi to acquire another tranche of advanced Javelin anti-tank missiles and Excalibur precision-guided artillery shells. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has formally notified the US Congress of the proposed deal, initiating the mandatory review period before the transfer can proceed.
Under the package, India is set to receive 100 FGM-148 Javelin missiles, 25 lightweight command launch units, and 216 Excalibur GPS-guided artillery rounds. The request also covers lifecycle support, operator and maintenance training, security inspections, refurbishment of launch units and other services needed for full operational readiness.
In its notification, the DSCA said the sale would strengthen the US-India strategic partnership and enhance India’s capacity to counter “current and future threats,” including regional security challenges and homeland defence requirements. It also noted that India would “have no difficulty absorbing” these systems into its existing military structure.
Washington has emphasised that the transaction will not disturb the broader military balance in the region. There are no known offset agreements at this stage, though these could be negotiated separately between India and the manufacturers.
The Javelins, produced jointly by Lockheed Martin and RTX, are among the world’s most advanced man-portable anti-tank weapons, capable of top-attack strikes that exploit vulnerabilities in armoured vehicles. Their effectiveness has been widely documented, particularly in Ukraine, where they have destroyed numerous Russian tanks. The Excalibur rounds provide precision artillery capabilities through GPS-aided guidance, enabling highly accurate strikes with reduced collateral damage.
Congress will now review the proposal, after which the sale can move forward if no objections are raised.
