India is poised to purchase the Javelin anti-tank weapon system from the United States, further strengthening defense ties between the two nations. This system is a portable, medium-range, ‘fire-and-forget’ weapon that allows a single user to target and engage armored vehicles effectively.
The exact number of Javelin systems India plans to procure and the value of the deal have not been disclosed. This single-man-portable, medium-range anti-tank weapon system is designed to defeat all known and projected threat armor. The FGM-148 Javelin is a portable anti-tank guided missile system developed for the US Army and Marine Corps.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the agreement could also create opportunities for greater cooperation and potential co-production between Indian and US defence industries.
The unit, or sight, allows the gunner to observe targets and lock onto them before the missile is launched. Once the missile has locked onto its target and is launched, it guides itself towards the target. The system combines a Command Launch Unit with the missile. This means the operator does not need to continuously guide the missile after firing and can immediately move to another position. This gives the operator greater freedom to take cover or reposition after launch, reducing exposure to enemy counterfire. Javelin can use an arched top-attack profile, climbing above the target before striking it from above where the armour is weaker. Javelin can be fired in either top-attack or direct-attack modes. Can It Be Fired From Inside A Building? Javelin uses a soft-launch system, allowing it to be fired from enclosed positions such as buildings or bunkers. This gives troops more flexibility in environments where firing from an exposed outdoor position could increase the risk to the operator. Javelin can be used against a range of targets Although primarily designed as an anti-tank weapon. The system is designed to engage armoured vehicles, bunkers and other fortified positions, in addition to main battle tanks. It can also operate during the day, at night and in different weather conditions. Javelin is produced by the Javelin Joint Venture between Lockheed Martin and RTX (Raytheon) for the US military and international customers.
The system entered full-rate production in 1994 and reached its 50,000th delivery in 2021. The weapon has seen combat use in Afghanistan and Iraq, with more than 5,000 engagements.
One of Javelin’s key features is its “fire-and-forget” capability.
