Why India took 16 years to acquire fire-and-forget Javelin missiles, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• India finalized a deal to acquire the Javelin anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system from the US through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process.
• The procurement process for the Javelin system spanned 16 years, beginning in 2010.
• The acquisition aims to address a shortage of ATGMs in the Indian Army and replace aging systems.
• Initial attempts to procure Javelin were stalled due to US restrictions on technology transfer.
• India had previously considered and made emergency purchases of Spike ATGMs from Israel.
• The current deal may involve co-production and co-assembly of Javelin in India with Bharat Dynamics Limited.

Detailed Insights:

• The Indian Army sought to replace its older Milan-2T and Konkurs missile systems with modern ATGMs.
• The Javelin was initially showcased to Indian forces during the 2009 bilateral exercise "Yudh Abhyas".
• The US refusal to share critical missile technology (score) led India to explore the Israeli Spike system in 2014.
• The Defence Acquisition Council approved the Spike purchase, but the deal faced cancellations due to performance concerns and technology transfer issues.
• India undertook an emergency purchase of Spike-LR ATGMs in 2019 to meet immediate operational requirements.
• Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems Pvt Ltd, a joint venture, secured an order for missile systems in August 2023.
• Renewed discussions for Javelin gained momentum as defence cooperation between India and the US deepened.
• The Javelin Joint Venture (Lockheed Martin and Raytheon) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bharat Dynamics Limited for potential co-production.
• Operation Sindoor in May 2025 further accelerated negotiations for the Javelin systems.
• The US officially cleared the sale of the Javelin system to India in November 2025.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM): Guided missiles designed to destroy heavily armored tanks and other armored fighting vehicles.
• Foreign Military Sales (FMS): A US government program facilitating sales of US defense articles and services to foreign governments.
• Transfer of Technology (ToT): The process of transferring technological know-how, manufacturing capabilities, or intellectual property from one entity to another.
• Defence Acquisition Council (DAC): The highest decision-making body in the Indian Ministry of Defence for capital acquisitions.