US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor highlighted India-US defence partnership while announcing India’s plans to buy a Javelin anti-tank missile system and hinted at co-production capabilities. But there is a catch to this announcement and brings the spotlight on bureaucratic delays on part of the US administration when it comes to procurement by India under the foreign military sales route.
The DRDO as usual could not deliver on its promise of an extended range ATGM, and India was forced to purchase Spike system (in hundreds) under emergency procurement after Chinese PLA transgressed into East Ladakh in May 2020. Hence, the purchase of the Javelin missile system by India was cleared this month and as such announced by Sergio Gor. However, the contract had to be extended by the Indian Defence Ministry as the foreign military sales route approval was delayed by the US Congress. To add to the misery of Indian armed forces, the DRDO wrote a letter to the then government stating that its indigenous NAG ATGM system was ready, so there was no need for either Javelin or Spike Israeli system to be procured.
the only way to bring India-US defence partnership much closer is by America offering 100 per cent ToT under the “Atmanirbhar” Bharat route While Ambassador Gor’s hint at co-production is welcome as the Javelin system is top of the line.
