In addition, the U.S. government has recently cleared two other major arms sales to India, worth a combined $92.8 million. The deals include the Javelin anti-tank missile system and Excalibur precision artillery projectiles. This weapons agreement further cements the increasingly closer defense ties between the two countries. When announcing these transactions, the U.S. State Department characterized them not as weapons sales but as efforts to advance foreign policy and national security objectives.
The first of these approved sales is for the Javelin Missile System, worth $45.7 million. This package comprises 100 FGM-148 Javelin rounds, one “fly-to-buy” missile and 25 lightweight command launch units. The second sale, valued at $47.1 million, includes up to 216 M982A1 Excalibur tactical projectiles. This deal includes a number of key items including fire-control systems, primers, propellant charges, technical data and repair services.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) emphasized that these sales will “improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats.” Furthermore, the agency highlighted India’s role as “an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress” in the region.
Of late, India’s defense trade with the United States has gone through the roof. It climbs up almost overnight from nearly zero to a staggering $20 billion! This uptick has made the U.S. India’s third-largest arms supplier, after Russia and France. Today, Russia remains India’s primary supplier of arms, accounting for 49 percent of total imports. Its share has fallen sharply from 62% in 2017 to only 34% in 2023.
Nine months ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had an Oval Office meeting with then President Donald Trump. For several years now, this meeting has resulted in an arms sales approval bonanza. During this high-profile meeting, both leaders pledged to deepen the defense relations between their two nations. In October, India and the U.S. signed a new framework agreement to expand their defense cooperation over the next decade.
India is seeking to further diversify its arms suppliers, away from historic reliance on Russia. At the same time, the U.S. is deepening these sales, showcasing an ironclad strategic partnership. The ongoing collaboration between the two nations reflects their mutual interests in enhancing security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.