US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Javelin Joint Venture, comprising Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, and TATA Advanced Systems Limited for the co-production of Javelin All-Up-Round missiles in India.

He described the agreement as a major step forward for the US-India defence partnership, highlighting that it would create new opportunities for American companies, strengthen the US defence-industrial base, and enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities.

The announcement was made on social media, where Gor emphasised the strategic importance of the collaboration. Lockheed Martin India had earlier confirmed the signing of the MoU with TATA Advanced Systems Limited, noting that the partnership would focus on co-producing the Javelin All-Up-Round missile domestically.

The MoU outlines plans for a dedicated final assembly and integration facility in India, alongside component manufacturing capabilities to meet future production requirements.

TATA Advanced Systems Limited was selected as the prime partner after an evaluation of multiple firms based on technical expertise and industrial capacity.

The initiative is expected to reinforce regional stability across the Indo-Pacific by ensuring resilient supply chains and expanding India’s defence industrial ecosystem.

Under the arrangement, sub-assembly kits will be manufactured at Lockheed Martin’s Troy facility in Alabama, while guidance electronics units will be produced at Raytheon’s Tucson facility in Arizona. 

These components will then be shipped to India for final assembly and integration. This model will sustain jobs in the United States while simultaneously creating high-tech employment opportunities in India.

Rich Liccion, vice president of the Javelin Joint Venture and program director for Lockheed Martin Javelin, stated that partnering with TATA Advanced Systems Limited to establish a final assembly and integration facility in India was a pivotal step in ensuring supply chain resilience for the Javelin system. 

He added that the collaboration would expand India’s high-tech manufacturing capabilities and strengthen security architecture across the Indo-Pacific, enabling partner nations to respond swiftly to emerging threats.

The initiative is expected to localise final assembly operations, expand domestic manufacturing knowledge, and support global supply chain resilience amid rising demand for the Javelin system. It also allows the US government to achieve economic order quantities, thereby generating cost savings across programs supporting joint venture production.

Jenna Hunt Frazier, president of the Javelin Joint Venture and program director at Raytheon, said the agreement with TATA Advanced Systems Limited would strengthen the global supply chain for Javelin. She noted that it would support faster fielding of the weapon system and sustained readiness for partner nations.

TATA Advanced Systems Limited officials emphasised that the partnership would reinforce interoperability and align with broader Indo-Pacific defence collaboration goals.

Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of TATA Advanced Systems Limited, expressed satisfaction at partnering with the Javelin Joint Venture, noting that the initiative would bring critical assembly expertise and knowledge transfer into India’s defence industrial ecosystem.

He added that local assembly of the Javelin All-Up-Round would enhance operational readiness and ensure timely access to proven, combat-ready capability for the Indian Armed Forces.

The Javelin system, jointly developed by Raytheon in Tucson, Arizona, and Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Florida, has already seen extensive production.

To date, the joint venture has manufactured over 55,000 Javelin missiles and more than 12,000 reusable Command Launch Units. The system has gained global recognition for its battlefield effectiveness, particularly in recent conflicts, and is widely operated by the US military and allied forces.

The co-production agreement with TATA Advanced Systems Limited marks a significant milestone in the long-standing defence cooperation between India and the United States.

It not only strengthens India’s defence industrial base but also ensures that both nations benefit from shared expertise, resilient supply chains, and enhanced operational readiness. The initiative is expected to contribute to India’s broader goal of defence self-reliance while deepening strategic ties with Washington.

ANI