NEW DELHI: India plans to purchase the battle-tested Javelin anti-tank missile system from the USA, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor stated on Friday.This transfer might strengthen the Indian armed forces’ means to have interaction enemy armoured autos.The proposed acquisition would add a extremely cell, precision-guided anti-armour weapon to India’s arsenal as New Delhi continues to increase defence cooperation with Washington and diversify its navy capabilities.
Why the Javelin issues
The Javelin is a man-portable, shoulder-fired anti-tank guided missile developed by US defence corporations Lockheed Martin and RTX. It’s designed to offer infantry models the flexibility to assault armoured autos with out counting on bigger anti-tank platforms.One in every of its key options is its fire-and-forget functionality. As soon as the missile is launched and its goal is locked, the operator doesn’t have to proceed guiding it, permitting troops to maneuver away from the firing place.The missile can even assault tanks from above, a characteristic often known as top-attack, permitting it to strike the extra susceptible higher sections of an armoured automobile. It can be utilized in a direct-attack mode towards sure targets.The system makes use of an imaging infrared seeker and is designed to function in several battlefield situations, giving infantry larger flexibility towards tanks and different armoured threats.
Battle-tested anti-armour weapon
Javelin has been used extensively in fight and has gained prominence for its effectiveness towards armoured autos. Its battlefield use, significantly in Ukraine, has additionally highlighted the significance of transportable anti-tank weapons in trendy warfare.For India, the system might present one other layer of anti-armour functionality alongside its current stock of indigenous and imported anti-tank weapons.The acquisition could possibly be significantly important for India’s land forces given the nation’s lengthy and tough borders, the place cell infantry models may have to reply quickly to armoured threats.
Enhance to India-US defence ties
The proposed buy additionally comes as India and the US search to deepen defence and strategic cooperation. The Javelin has beforehand been mentioned within the context of strengthening India’s infantry anti-armour capabilities, though the 2 nations have but to reveal particulars of the proposed buy, together with the variety of missiles or its worth.The transfer would give Indian forces entry to a mature US anti-tank system whereas probably creating alternatives for nearer defence-industrial cooperation between the 2 nations.The proposed Javelin acquisition subsequently issues on two fronts: it might strengthen India’s battlefield anti-armour functionality whereas deepening one in every of New Delhi’s most vital defence partnerships.
