US greenlights Javelin missile systems, Excalibur projectiles sales worth $93 million to India

The Trump administration on Wednesday approved nearly $93 million worth of defence sales to India, signalling the continued strengthening of military cooperation between the two nations.

The US State Department has given the green signal for the sale of Javelin anti-tank missile systems and associated equipment valued at approximately $45.7 million, along with Excalibur projectiles estimated at $47.1 million.

A release from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which functions under the Department of War, said India sought to procure 100 FGM-148 Javelin missiles, one fly-to-buy missile, 25 command launch units and 216 Excalibur tactical projectiles.

The agency noted that the proposed package would “strengthen the India-US strategic relationship” and bolster the capabilities of a “major defence partner”.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defence partner, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions. The proposed sale will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defence and deter regional threats,” the statement added.

The approval comes shortly after Washington and New Delhi unveiled a 10-year defence cooperation framework aimed at boosting collaboration in military technology, joint production and information exchange.

On October 31, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur, where both sides signed the long-term ‘Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership’, marking a significant step forward in bilateral defence ties.

“Had a fruitful meeting with my US counterpart Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur. We signed the 10 years ‘Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership’. This will usher in a new era in our already strong defence partnership,” Singh wrote on X.

“This Defence Framework will provide policy direction to the entire spectrum of the India-US Defence Relationship. It is a signal of our growing strategic convergence and will herald a new decade of partnership,” he added.

Hegseth echoed this sentiment on X, saying the defence relationship between the two countries had “never been stronger”.

“I just met with @rajnathsingh to sign a 10-year U.S.-India Defense Framework. This advances our defense partnership, a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence. We're enhancing our coordination, info sharing, and tech cooperation. Our defense ties have never been stronger.”
(With IANS Inputs)