U.S. troops firing Javelin anti-tank missiles. EPA Yonhap News photo. 

Following India's recent large-scale purchase of U.S.-made fighter jet engines, the U.S. has decided to supply weapons worth approximately 130 billion won to India, which is expected to help improve trade relations that were once extremely strained between the two countries.

According to Reuters and the BBC on the 21st (local time), the U.S. State Department approved the sale of Javelin anti-tank missile systems and Excalibur smart artillery shells to India, valued at $92.8 million (approximately 137 billion won), the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced.

The Indian government requested the purchase of 100 Javelin missiles, associated launch systems, and 216 Excalibur artillery shells, the DSCA stated. India is already using Excalibur artillery shells.

The DSCA said in a statement that these weapons "will enhance India's capability to counter current and future threats."

Regarding the sale, it further explained that it "will strengthen the U.S.-India strategic relationship and support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by improving the security of a major defense partner that is an important driver of political stability, peace, and economic development in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region."

This weapons acquisition marks India's first purchase under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program since relations soured in August when U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50% in retaliation for India's purchase of Russian oil.

Earlier this month, India's state-owned aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) signed a contract with U.S. General Electric (GE) to purchase 113 engines for its indigenous Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets.

Recently, President Trump has reportedly urged India to increase its imports of U.S.-made weapons, and India has also been working to diversify its sources of arms procurement, which have historically relied on Russia.

India's imports of U.S.-made defense materiel have surged from nearly zero in 2017 to approximately $20 billion (about 29.5 trillion won) in 2023, making it the third-largest supplier after Russia and France. During the same period, Russia's share of defense materiel dropped by nearly half, from 62% to 34%.

Yonhap News