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

NEW DELHI: Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) and the Javelin Joint Venture (JJV) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the co-production of shoulder-fired anti-tank guided missiles in India. The announcement comes three days after India and the US announced a deal to acquire approximately 100 Javelin missile systems valued at less than ₹300 crore.

Under the terms of the agreement, TASL and the JJV will explore a location to establish a final assembly and integration facility for the Javelin All Up Round (AUR) alongside component production capabilities in India. The initial agreement does not specify technology transfer for co-production, according to a joint statement released on Monday. Instead, sub-assembly kits and guidance electronics units (GEUs) will be shipped to India for final assembly and integration.

JJV—a partnership between Raytheon, an RTX business, and Lockheed Martin—selected TASL as the prime partner for future in-country co-production efforts. The selection followed an evaluation of multiple companies based on capability and expertise. Earlier, JJV had also engaged with state-owned Bharat Dynamics Ltd (BDL), which has been shortlisted by the Defence Research and Development Organisation as a production partner for its own Man-Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile, before ultimately selecting TASL.

Rich Liccion, Vice President of JJV and Programme Director at Lockheed Martin, stated that the partnership establishes a resilient supply chain for the anti-tank weapon system. He added that the collaboration expands India's high-tech manufacturing capabilities and reinforces security architecture in the Indo-Pacific region.

Sukaran Singh, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, noted that the initiative brings critical assembly expertise and knowledge transfer into India's defence industrial ecosystem. He stated that local assembly of the Javelin AUR will enhance operational readiness and provide timely combat-ready capabilities for the Indian Armed Forces.

The arrangement will also sustain American jobs through multiyear production cycles. Sub-assembly kits will be produced at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Troy, Alabama, while guidance electronics units will be manufactured at Raytheon’s facility in Tucson, Arizona.

According to the companies involved, the in-country co-production framework will create high-tech jobs, advance local manufacturing expertise, and support global supply chain resiliency amid rising worldwide demand. Additionally, higher production volumes are expected to help the US government achieve economies of scale, driving down costs and improving overall program affordability for the JJV.

"This partnership between Tata Advanced Systems and the Javelin Joint Venture marks a notable development in the Indian defence manufacturing sector. By focusing initially on final assembly, integration, and component supply chains rather than immediate technology transfer, the collaboration establishes a pragmatic framework for private sector participation in high-tech defence production. For the broader business ecosystem, such cross-border JVs demonstrate how private enterprises can successfully integrate into global supply chains while supporting domestic industrial growth and operational readiness." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes