- The State Department approved possible sales to India of Javelin missiles worth $45.7 million and Excalibur projectiles worth $47.1 million.
- DSCA said the sales would support U.S. policy goals by strengthening the defense relationship with India and improving India’s ability to meet current and future threats.
The State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to India that includes Javelin anti-tank missiles, Excalibur precision artillery projectiles, and related support equipment, according to a notification sent to Congress by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
The combined estimated value of the two packages is about $92.8 million.
According to the DSCA certification, the Government of India has requested to buy one hundred FGM-148 Javelin rounds, one Javelin FGM-148 missile for fly-to-buy evaluation, and twenty-five Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units or Javelin Block 1 Command Launch Units. The package also includes Javelin Basic Skills Trainers, missile simulation rounds, battery coolant units, operator manuals, technical manuals, lifecycle support, physical security inspection, spare parts, system integration and checkout, Security Assistance Management Directorate technical assistance, Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions Project Office support, tool kits, training, Block 1 CLU refurbishment services, and logistics support. The estimated cost of the Javelin package is $45.7 million.
This proposed sale, the notification said, “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the U.S.-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defense partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.” The DSCA added that the sale “will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats.” According to the release, India “will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
In the statement, the United States also said the transfer “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.” The principal contractors for the Javelin portion will be the RTX Corporation and Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture, located in Orlando, Florida, and Tucson, Arizona. The DSCA said it is not aware of any offset agreements, noting that such arrangements would be defined later in negotiations between India and the contractor.
In a separate certification, the Department of War approved India’s request to buy up to two hundred sixteen M982A1 Excalibur tactical projectiles. The package includes ancillary items, Portable Electronic Fire Control Systems with Improved Platform Integration Kits, primers, propellant charges, U.S. Government technical assistance, technical data, repair and return services, and logistics support. The cost of the Excalibur package is estimated at $47.1 million.
According to the notification, this proposed sale “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the U.S.-Indian strategic relationship and to improve the security of a major defense partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.” The release also states that the sale “will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing precision capability equipment, which will increase first strike accuracy in its brigades.” As with the Javelin package, the State Department said India “will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces,” and that the sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
The principal contractor for the Excalibur program will be RTX Corporation, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. The notification again stated that the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset arrangements at this stage and that any such agreements would be negotiated directly between India and the contractor.