Why in news?
The United States State Department has approved the sale of Javelin anti‑tank missiles and M982 Excalibur precision artillery shells to India. The deal, worth about US$92.8 million, will improve the capabilities of the Indian Army.
Background
The FGM‑148 Javelin is a portable, shoulder‑fired anti‑tank guided missile developed jointly by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. It entered service with the US military in the mid‑1990s and has been used in conflicts such as Afghanistan and Iraq. The M982 Excalibur is a GPS‑guided artillery projectile designed to extend the range and accuracy of conventional howitzers.
Features of the Javelin missile
- Man‑portable and lightweight: A single soldier can carry and operate the system. The missile weighs about 11.8 kg while the command launch unit (CLU) weighs roughly 7 kg.
- Fire‑and‑forget guidance: The Javelin uses an imaging infrared seeker that locks on to a target before launch. Once fired, the missile guides itself, allowing the operator to seek cover.
- Soft‑launch system: A small motor ejects the missile from the tube before the main motor ignites, enabling safe firing from enclosed spaces such as buildings or trenches.
- Attack profiles: Operators can choose between top‑attack mode, which plunges onto the thinner armour on top of tanks, or direct‑attack mode for fortifications and low‑flying helicopters.
- Effective range: Standard versions have an effective range of about 2.5 km. Newer models can reportedly reach up to 4 km.
- Warhead: The tandem high‑explosive anti‑tank (HEAT) warhead is designed to penetrate explosive reactive armour. Together with its guidance system, the Javelin has proven highly reliable against modern armoured vehicles.
M982 Excalibur artillery projectile
- Precision guidance: The shell uses GPS navigation to hit targets with a radial miss distance of less than two metres, reducing collateral damage.
- Extended range: Depending on the calibre of the gun, Excalibur can extend artillery range to 40 km for 39‑calibre howitzers, 50 km for 52‑calibre guns and around 70 km for 58‑calibre systems.
- Cost efficiency: Although a single round is more expensive than a conventional shell, its accuracy means that one Excalibur round can achieve the effect of several unguided projectiles, saving ammunition and time.
- Compatibility: India already operates M777 155 mm howitzers, and Excalibur rounds have been tested and integrated with these guns. The new purchase will enhance long‑range precision strike capability.
Significance
- The acquisition will bolster India’s anti‑armour capabilities and provide troops with modern firepower that can be used from cover.
- Excalibur shells will allow the army to strike high‑value targets at greater distances with minimal collateral damage, a critical requirement in modern warfare.
- The deal reflects growing defence cooperation between India and the United States and may open doors for technology transfer and local manufacturing.
Source: TH
