US Approves $93 Million in New Military Sales to India, Marking Deepening Strategic Ties

Washington, Nov 2025 : The Trump administration on Wednesday approved military sales worth approximately $93 million to India, further solidifying the rapidly expanding defence partnership between the two countries.

According to notifications issued by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the State Department has cleared two major packages: FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile systems and related equipment valued at $45.7 million, and Excalibur precision-guided artillery projectiles worth $47.1 million.

India’s request includes 100 Javelin missiles, one fly-to-buy missile, 25 command launch units, and 216 Excalibur tactical projectiles. The DSCA statement described the proposed sale as essential to “strengthening the India-US strategic relationship” and enhancing the defence capabilities of a “major defence partner.”

The agency added:
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by strengthening the US-Indian strategic relationship and enhancing the security of a major defence partner. India continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions. The sale will improve India’s capability to meet current and future threats, bolster its homeland defence, and deter regional challenges.”

A New Phase in Defence Cooperation

The decision comes just weeks after Washington and New Delhi formalised a landmark 10-year defence cooperation framework, intended to accelerate joint work in military technology, co-production, advanced weapons development, and sensitive information sharing.

On October 31, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur, where both sides signed the Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership, signalling a long-term commitment to deepening security collaboration.

Following the meeting, Singh posted on X:
“Had a fruitful meeting with my US counterpart Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur. We signed the 10-year ‘Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership’. This will usher in a new era in our already strong defence partnership.”

He added that the agreement “will provide policy direction to the entire spectrum of the India-US Defence Relationship” and reflects a growing convergence in strategic outlook between the two nations.

Secretary Hegseth echoed the sentiment, writing on X that India-US defence ties had “never been stronger.” He noted that the new framework would enhance coordination, intelligence sharing, and cooperation in emerging defence technologies, calling the partnership “a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence.”

Strengthening India’s Defence Capabilities

The Javelin missile system, co-developed by Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, is widely regarded as one of the most effective man-portable anti-tank systems in the world. The Excalibur projectile, meanwhile, is a GPS-guided artillery shell capable of striking targets with extreme precision, even in complex environments.

US officials emphasised that these acquisitions will significantly enhance India’s ability to counter evolving threats, particularly along its borders, and improve interoperability with US and allied forces during joint exercises.

With both nations increasingly aligned on maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific, Wednesday’s approval marks another major step in what has become one of Washington’s most consequential strategic partnerships.