Defence: The US okays the sale of missiles, artillery rounds worth $93 million to India
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: As Russia offered India Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighter aircraft, without restrictions, ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s visit to New Delhi next month, the US has, in a major defence deal, swiftly cleared the sale of Javelin missiles and Excalibur artillery rounds worth USD 93 million to India.
The US move came after New Delhi, on Monday, signed a major one-year deal with Washington to import 2.2 metric tonnes (MT) of LPG from America in 2026 as the two countries inched closer to finalizing a wide-ranging Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
In October, the US signed a 10-year defence framework with India. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that military ties with New Delhi have “never been stronger”. The move signalled that trade tensions between the two nations have not affected broader strategic cooperation.
The approval, granted by the US State Department, covers the sale of 100 Javelin missiles, 216 M982A1 Excalibur tactical projectiles (worth USD 47.1 million), one fly-to-buy round, 25 command-launch units, training aids, simulation rounds, spare parts, and full lifecycle support, the media reported on Thursday.
Washington’s deal with India includes FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems and M982A1 Excalibur precision-guided artillery projectiles, according to a notification issued by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The combined package is valued at an estimated USD 93 million.
The Javelin component of the purchase is designed to enhance India’s anti-armour capabilities and support infantry operations.
Excalibur is a GPS-guided, extended-range artillery round known for its high precision and minimal collateral damage and was extensively used by the Indian Army during the Operation Sindoor in May 2025 against Pakistan.
The fresh arrivals will fill the stock exhausted during the military operation.
Non-Major Defence Equipment (non-MDE) items included in the proposal range from Portable Electronic Fire Control Systems (PEFCS), equipped with Improved Platform Integration Kits (iPIK) to primers, propellant charges, technical assistance, repair and return services, and other logistical support elements.
The DSCA has formally notified the US Congress of the potential sale, a statutory requirement before final approval and contracting.
In a statement, the agency said the proposed transaction would “support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the US-Indian strategic relationship and improve the security of a major defence partner.”
India remains “an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions,” it added.
According to DSCA, the equipment will enhance India’s ability to meet current and future threats by providing advanced precision-strike capability, and increasing first-strike accuracy across its brigades. India is expected to “have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
The sale, DSCA emphasised, “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
RTX Corporation, based in Arlington, Virginia, will serve as the principal contractor for both the Javelin and Excalibur systems. No offset agreements have been proposed at this stage, though these may be negotiated later between India and the contractor.
The agency also confirmed that implementing the sale will not require the deployment of additional US government or contractor personnel to India and will not adversely affect US defence readiness.
The approval marks another step in deepening defence ties between Washington and New Delhi, following a series of high-value military procurements and cooperative agreements in recent years.
