"India Signs Agreement to Procure Javelin Anti-Tank Guided Missile System from US"
Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM)
a precision-guided munition designed to defeat armoured vehicles, guided to its target by various means.
Fire-and-forget
a missile guidance mode where the weapon autonomously tracks and hits the target after launch, requiring no further operator input.
India's quest for a modern man-portable anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) has been a long-standing gap in its infantry arsenal. The Indian Army operates older systems such as the Milan and Konkurs, both of which require the operator to guide the missile to its target throughout its flight, a process that keeps the soldier exposed to enemy fire. The search for a 'fire-and-forget' replacement has been ongoing for over a decade. Domestically, DRDO developed the NAG anti-tank missile and its man-portable variant MPATGM, but delays in induction and capability gaps kept the requirement open. India's defence procurement framework, governed by the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, prioritises indigenous systems, but also permits import through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route when operational urgency or capability gaps justify it. The Javelin acquisition follows this FMS route, which is a government-to-government channel through which the US sells defence equipment to partner nations.
The broader context is the deepening of the US-India defence partnership. A 10-year defence framework agreement signed between the two countries created the institutional foundation for expanded cooperation, including co-production possibilities. The Javelin deal is one of the first concrete outcomes of that framework, signalling a shift from India merely buying American equipment to potentially manufacturing components or systems jointly on Indian soil.
The Javelin is a man-portable, shoulder-fired anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) that entered service with the US military in 1996. It is manufactured by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. The system has a standard effective range of 2.5 km and weighs approximately 22 kg in total, with the missile itself accounting for 8.4 kg.
The defining feature of the Javelin is its 'fire-and-forget' capability, enabled by an infrared guidance system built into the missile. The operator uses an infrared sight on the launcher to locate a target and places a cursor-defined lock on it. This lock is transmitted to a guidance computer on the missile itself. Once fired, the missile navigates to the target autonomously. …
What is "Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)", sometimes seen in the news ?
Consider the following statements:
1.Ballistic missiles are jet-propelled at subsonic speeds throughout their flights, while cruise missiles are rocket-powered only in the initial phase of flight.
2.Agni-V is a medium-range supersonic cruise missile, while BrahMos is a solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to Agni-IV Missile, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.It is a surface-to-surface missile.
2.It is fuelled by liquid propellant only.
3.It can deliver one-tonne nuclear warheads about 7500 km away.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
How is S-400 air defence system technically superior to any other system presently available in the world?
Consider the following statements regarding the Javelin anti-tank guided missile system:
1.It uses an infrared guidance system that allows the missile to navigate to its target without further operator input after firing.
2.Its 'soft launch' mechanism uses a single motor that burns completely inside the launch tube before the missile exits.
3.In top-attack mode, the missile climbs to approximately 150 m before diving onto the target's roof armour.
4.It was first inducted into US military service in 2001.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
Missile system : Manufacturer / Developer
1.Javelin ATGM : Javelin Joint Venture (Raytheon and Lockheed Martin)
2.BrahMos : DRDO and NPO Mashinostroyeniya (Russia)
3.S-400 Triumf : Raytheon and Boeing
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
With reference to the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process of the United States, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.FMS is a government-to-government channel through which the US sells defence equipment to partner nations.
2.A Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) is the formal contractual document through which a foreign government agrees to a purchase under FMS.
3.FMS sales are negotiated directly between the buying country and the American manufacturer, without US government involvement.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
The 'top-attack mode' of an anti-tank guided missile is specifically designed to:
Consider the following statements about the Javelin missile system's operational advantages:
1.The fire-and-forget guidance allows the operator to relocate immediately after firing, reducing exposure to counterfire.
2.The soft launch mechanism enables the Javelin to be fired from inside confined spaces and buildings.
3.The Javelin can only be fired from a fixed tripod mount and cannot be shoulder-launched by a single soldier.
4.The system's infrared guidance makes it effective against targets in both day and night conditions.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
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