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Security
India to Procure US Anti-Tank
Guided Missile System
India's Ministry of Defence has expressed its interest in to test its efficacy under differing operational conditions.
procuring the Javelin anti-tank guided missile system
The FMS route is preferred to short-circuit the tedious
(ATGM) from the United States, India's lower house of
procurement route undertaken through a global
parliament, the Lok Sabha, was informed recently.
tendering process, which invariably runs into problems
According to sources, it is understood that both countries for any number of reasons. The Indian Ministry of
entered into talks for the sale of the system after it was Defence maintains it opts for such a process only to meet
showcased to Indian troops during a bilateral exercise operational requirements of the armed forces.
involving mechanised forces of the two armies in Babina
Indian infantry units are currently equipped with variants
Cantonment near Jhansi in October last year.
of the European second-generation 2-km-range Milan
"The Defence Ministry proposes to issue a Letter of and the Russian 4-km-range Konkurs ATGMs, produced
Request (LoR) to the US government under their Foreign by defence PSU Bharat Dynamics Ltd under licence from
Military Sales (FMS) route for procurement of third French and Russian companies. The Indian Army has also
generation anti-tank guided missile along with transfer of placed an initial order for 443 missiles of the
technology," Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in a indigenously developed third-generation Nag ATGM,
written reply to a query. The acquisition of this third with a 4-km strike range.
generation anti-tank guided missile system will be
undertaken under the US Government's Foreign Military
The Javelin ATGM
Sales (FMS) programme and will also involve transfer of The Javelin is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on
technology.
before launch and automatic self-guidance. The missile
Under defence deals through the FMS route, India adopts a top-attack flight profile against armoured
doesn't have to issue a global tender and the deal is vehicles, as the top armour is generally thinner, but can
solemnized between the two governments. The Javelin also assume a direct-attack mode for use against
deal will become the third such procurement under the buildings or fortifications.
FMS programme this year. In January 2010, the US The missile also has the ability to engage helicopters in
Defence Security Cooperation Agency notified the the direct attack mode. The missile is equipped with an
Congress of possible sale of 145 M777 155mm light- imaging infra-red seeker. The tandem warhead is fitted
weight towed howitzers at an estimated cost of $467 with two shaped charges: a precursor warhead to
million.
detonate any explosive reactive armour and a primary
In April, the same agency notified the Congress of warhead to penetrate base armour. The missile system is
potential sale of ten heavy-lift Boeing C-17 carried most often by a two man team consisting of a
Globemaster-III transporters to India at an estimated gunner and an ammo bearer. The Javelin ATGM system is
value of $5.8 billion. The Indian Air Force apparently a joint venture between Raytheon and Lockheed
conducted trials for the C-17 at three different locations Martin.
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