India signs deal with US to buy Javelin anti-tank missile systems

The Indian Army has entered into an agreement with the United States to acquire Javelin anti-tank missile systems, the U.S. Embassy in India announced on Friday, without revealing the deal's monetary value. This medium-range guided missile system, co-produced by Lockheed Martin and RTX, is capable of neutralizing a variety of targets, including armored vehicles.

Currently utilized by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, as well as multiple foreign clientele, the missile system's introduction to India marks a new chapter in bilateral defense collaborations. U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor highlighted the potential for enhanced cooperation between the defense sectors of both nations. While New Delhi has not yet commented on the agreement, India is recognized as the world's fifth-largest military spender and the second-largest arms importer, following Ukraine, as per data compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

Despite a recent deterioration in bilateral relations, characterized by the imposition of high tariffs on Indian goods by Washington, sanctions targeting New Delhi for its oil procurement from Russia, and closer engagement with India's rival Pakistan, the defense partnership between the two countries has remained resilient.