Hyderabad: Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Javelin Joint Venture (JJV) that has been formed by Raytheon, which is a part of American aerospace and defence giant RTX Corporation, and Lockheed Martin for the co-production of the anti-tank missile Javelin All Up Round (AUR) in India. This agreement will support future production of the Javelin system while providing unique opportunities for Indian industry and strengthening regional stability for Indo-Pacific, the companies said on Monday.As part of the MoU, the partners will explore the setting up of a final assembly and integration facility for the anti-tank missile round along with component production capabilities through Indian suppliers. Under the proposed model, Lockheed Martin’s facility in Troy, Alabama, would continue producing sub-assembly kits, while Raytheon’s Tucson, Arizona, site would make guidance electronics units. Those items would be shipped to India for final assembly and integration, sustaining work in the US supply chain while adding Indian capacity.Though they did not divulge the location for the manufacturing facility in India, Hyderabad is India’s missile development and manufacturing hub and TASL also has joint venture aerospace manufacturing facilities in the city. Rich Liccion, JJV vice president and Lockheed Martin’s Javelin program director, called the planned Indian facility a pivotal step towards a more resilient supply chain for the weapon system and said it would strengthen security across Indo-Pacific.Jenna Hunt Frazier, JJV president and Raytheon’s Javelin program director, said the agreement would support faster fielding and sustained readiness for partner nations. Sukaran Singh, chief executive and managing director of TASL, said local assembly would bring critical expertise and knowledge transfer into India’s defence ecosystem and improve timely access to combat-ready capability for the Indian armed forces.The companies said the arrangement is intended to expand India’s defence manufacturing base, create high-technology jobs and improve supply-chain resilience as global demand for Javelin systems rises. It also supports India’s goal of greater self-reliance in defence production while deepening industrial ties with the US. TASL said it was selected by JJV as the prime partner for future co-production efforts in India after the joint venture assessed multiple companies based on capability and expertise. The Javelin venture has produced more than 55,000 missiles and 12,000 reusable command launch units to date, the companies said.
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