Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) and the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV) have agreed to collaborate on the in-country co-production of the Javelin All Up Round (AUR) anti-tank missile system in India.
The JJV, responsible for developing and producing the Javelin system, is a partnership between Raytheon, an RTX business, and Lockheed Martin.
Under a newly signed memorandum of understanding (MoU), Tata Advanced Systems was selected as the prime Indian partner for the proposed co-production initiative.
According to Lockheed Martin, Tata Advanced Systems was chosen after evaluating several Indian companies for their technical capabilities and expertise.
Under the terms outlined in the agreement, Tata Advanced Systems and JJV will assess the feasibility of establishing a dedicated final assembly and integration facility for the Javelin missile system, as well as potential for domestic component manufacturing.
The companies plan to support ongoing and future Javelin production while developing opportunities for India’s defence sector and contributing to supply chain resilience.
The arrangement envisages the production of sub-assembly kits at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Troy, Alabama, and guidance electronics units at Raytheon’s plant in Tucson, Arizona.
These components will be shipped to India for final assembly and integration by Tata Advanced Systems.
Lockheed Martin stated that the initiative will help create a defence workforce in India, strengthen local manufacturing capabilities, and support larger economic order quantities for the US government.
The agreement is also positioned as a measure to support regional security in the Indo-Pacific, providing a reliable and locally sourced supply of Javelin missiles for partner nations and supporting faster deployment and sustained readiness
Lockheed Martin Javelin programme director and JJV vice president Rich Liccion said: “Partnering with Tata Advanced Systems to establish a dedicated Javelin final assembly and integration facility in India is a pivotal step in ensuring a resilient, supply chain for this critical anti-tank weapon system.
“This collaboration not only expands India’s high tech manufacturing capabilities but also reinforces a stronger, more stable security architecture across the Indo Pacific region, enabling our partners around the world to respond swiftly to emerging threats.”
The collaboration for Javelin co-production follows the announcement by the US Embassy in India announced that the Indian Army signed an agreement with the US to purchase Javelin anti-tank missile systems.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said: “The Javelin agreement demonstrates the depth of US support for the Indian Army and creates new opportunities for our defence industries to work together. We see tremendous potential for future cooperation that strengthens the defence industrial bases of both countries.”
In November last year, the US State Department approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to India, which included the Javelin Missile System and related equipment valued at approximately $45.7m.
Javelin is a fire-and-forget, medium-range, man-portable anti-tank weapon system, currently used by the US Army, US Marine Corps and various armed forces globally.
To date, over 55,000 Javelin missiles and 12,000 command launch units have been produced by the partnership, which is headquartered in the US.
