India to seek US’ Javelin anti-tank guided missile

NEW DELHI - India is likely to procure the third-generation Javelin anti-tank guided missiles along with its technology, parliament was informed Monday.

“The ministry of defence proposes to issue a Letter of Request to the US government under their Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route for procurement of (the) third generation anti-tank guided missile along with transfer of technology,” Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

He was asked if the government proposed to buy FGM-148 Javelin missiles from the US to equip the Indian Army with the capability of defeating enemy armour systems.

Antony said “further procurement related necessary action” would follow the request.

India and the US began talks about the sale of the missile system after it was demonstrated in a bilateral exercise involving mechanised forces of the two armies in Babina Cantt near Jhansi.

The FGM-148 Javelin is a man-portable third generation anti-tank guided missile that also has an ability to engage helicopters in the direct attack mode. The missile, equipped with an imaging infrared seeker, reaches a peak altitude of 150 m in top-attack mode and 60 m in direct-fire mode.

It is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on capability before launch and automatic self-guidance giving the firing team sufficient time to move on after the missile is launched.