"India Finalises Javelin ATGM Deal After 16-Year Procurement Delay"
Fire-and-forget
missile guidance mode where the operator locks on before launch; the missile navigates autonomously after firing.
SACLOS (Semi-Active Command to Line of Sight)
guidance requiring the operator to track the target throughout the missile's flight.
India's infantry has long relied on older anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) systems such as the Milan-2T and Konkurs, both of which use semi-active command-to-line-of-sight (SACLOS) guidance. Under this system, the operator must continuously track the target and guide the missile throughout its flight. This keeps the soldier exposed to enemy fire for several seconds, a critical vulnerability in modern combat. The search for a 'fire-and-forget' replacement, where the operator locks on and can immediately seek cover after firing, has driven India's ATGM procurement efforts for over a decade.
Domestically, DRDO developed the NAG missile and its man-portable variant, the MPATGM, but delays in development timelines and capability gaps kept the operational requirement open. India's defence procurement framework, governed by the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, prioritises indigenous systems but permits import through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route when operational urgency demands it. The FMS route is a government-to-government channel through which the US sells defence equipment to partner nations, often with conditions on end-use monitoring and technology transfer.
The Javelin is a man-portable, shoulder-fired ATGM manufactured by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. Its defining feature is an infrared imaging seeker that locks onto a target's heat signature before launch. Once fired, the missile navigates autonomously, freeing the operator immediately. A soft launch mechanism uses a two-stage motor: a small ejection charge propels the missile clear of the operator before the main motor ignites, suppressing the exhaust signature and protecting the soldier. The system offers two attack modes. In direct attack mode, it flies straight at bunkers or helicopters. In top-attack mode, it climbs to approximately 150 metres before diving onto the thin roof armour of a tank, where armour protection is weakest. …
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.
Consider the following statements regarding the Javelin anti-tank guided missile system:
1.It is manufactured by a joint venture between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.
2.Its top-attack mode involves the missile climbing to approximately 150 metres before striking a tank's roof armour.
3.India procured Javelin through the Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) route.
4.Bharat Dynamics Limited signed an MoU with the Javelin Joint Venture for co-production in India.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
1.Javelin ATGM — Raytheon and Lockheed Martin (Javelin Joint Venture)
2.Spike ATGM — Elbit Systems, Israel
3.MPATGM — Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)
4.BrahMos — Bharat Dynamics Limited
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
With reference to India's Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM) developed by DRDO, consider the following statements:
1.It uses an imaging infrared homing seeker as its guidance system.
2.It is equipped with a tandem warhead designed to defeat modern reactive armour.
3.It can only be launched from a fixed tripod and not from a vehicle-mounted launcher.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements about India's anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) procurement history:
1.India's 2010 Javelin acquisition attempt collapsed primarily because the US refused to share the missile's core seeker technology under a full transfer-of-technology model.
2.India cleared the purchase of over 8,000 Spike ATGMs in 2014 before cancelling the order in 2017.
3.An emergency purchase of Spike-LR ATGMs was made in 2021 to address an operational gap.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Assertion (A): India's Javelin ATGM deal includes a co-production arrangement with Bharat Dynamics Limited rather than a simple purchase.
Reason (R): The Foreign Military Sales route prohibits any form of technology transfer or co-production between the US and partner nations.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above Assertion and Reason?
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