Tata Advanced Systems and Javelin Joint Venture Sign MoU for Missile Co-Production in India

Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV), a partnership between Raytheon, an RTX business, and Lockheed Martin, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the co-production of Javelin All Up Round (AUR) missiles in India. The agreement marks a fresh step in India-US defence industrial cooperation and could significantly expand the participation of Indian industry in the Javelin supply chain.

Under the MoU, Tata Advanced Systems has been selected as the Javelin Joint Venture’s prime Indian partner for potential future in-country co-production. The companies will explore setting up a facility in India for the final assembly and integration of the Javelin AUR, as well as the production of selected components. The initiative is intended to support future Javelin production while creating additional opportunities for India’s defence manufacturing sector.

The planned production arrangement would connect India’s manufacturing capabilities with the existing US Javelin production network. Sub-assembly kits are expected to continue to be manufactured at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Troy, Alabama, while guidance electronics units would be produced by Raytheon in Tucson, Arizona, before being shipped to India for final assembly and integration.

The development comes only days after the Indian Army signed an agreement with the United States to procure Javelin anti-tank missile systems through the US Foreign Military Sales process. The US Embassy in India confirmed the agreement on August 28, although financial details were not publicly disclosed at the time.

The Javelin is a medium-range, shoulder-launched, fire-and-forget anti-tank missile system designed primarily to engage armoured targets. It is jointly produced by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin and has been supplied to the United States and several international partner nations. The Javelin Joint Venture said it has produced more than 55,000 missiles and over 12,000 reusable Command Launch Units to date.

For India, the proposed co-production arrangement could provide greater access to advanced missile manufacturing processes and support the development of domestic industrial capabilities. The initiative also aligns with New Delhi’s broader objective of increasing defence production within the country and integrating Indian companies more deeply into global defence supply chains.

TASL’s growing involvement in advanced defence and aerospace manufacturing has made the company an important industry partner for international defence firms operating in India. The proposed Javelin arrangement could further expand its role in missile production, systems integration and high-technology defence manufacturing.

The MoU itself is a framework for exploring future production and does not constitute a final manufacturing contract. However, if the proposed facility and associated production plans move ahead, the agreement could become another important milestone in India’s efforts to build a stronger domestic defence industrial base while deepening strategic and industrial ties with the United States.