Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, to explore the co-production of Javelin All Up Round missiles in India. The agreement could make TASL the prime partner for future in-country production of the anti-tank missile system.

The Javelin Joint Venture selected TASL after evaluating multiple Indian companies on their capabilities and technical expertise. Under the agreement, the partners will assess the possibility of setting up a dedicated facility in India for the final assembly and integration of Javelin missiles. They will also examine opportunities to manufacture components in India.

The proposed facility would cater to future production needs and strengthen India's role in the Javelin supply chain. The companies said the initiative could also support regional stability across the Indo-Pacific.

“This partnership with Tata Advanced Systems Limited to establish a dedicated Javelin final assembly and integration facility in India is a pivotal step in ensuring a resilient supply chain for this critical anti-tank weapon system,” said Rich Liccion, vice president of the Javelin Joint Venture and program director for Lockheed Martin Javelin.

“This collaboration not only expands India's high-tech manufacturing capabilities but also reinforces a stronger, more stable security architecture across the Indo-Pacific region, enabling our partners around the world to respond swiftly to emerging threats,” Liccion added.

The proposed production arrangement will connect US-based component manufacturing with final assembly in India. Lockheed Martin's facility in Troy, Alabama, will manufacture sub-assembly kits over several years. Raytheon's facility in Tucson, Arizona, will produce guidance electronics units. These components will then be sent to India for final assembly and integration.

The companies said this model would create high-tech manufacturing jobs in India while also supporting manufacturing positions in the United States. It would help India build greater expertise in missile assembly and production. The initiative also aims to increase local manufacturing and make the global Javelin supply chain more resilient as international demand for the system grows.

“This agreement with Tata Advanced Systems Limited establishes a foundation to strengthen the global supply chain for Javelin,” said Jenna Hunt Frazier, president of the Javelin Joint Venture and Javelin program director at Raytheon. “It supports faster fielding of the proven Javelin weapon system and sustained readiness for partner nations.”

The proposed co-production model could also help the US government achieve economic order quantities for Javelin production. This could result in measurable cost savings across programmes that support production by the joint venture.

The partnership marks another step in TASL's growing role in India's defence manufacturing sector. Tata officials said the initiative would support interoperability and fit into wider defence cooperation efforts in the Indo-Pacific.

“We are pleased to partner with the Javelin Joint Venture on this important next step in our long-standing relationship with Lockheed Martin and Raytheon,” said Sukaran Singh, chief executive officer and managing director of Tata Advanced Systems Limited.

“This initiative brings critical assembly expertise and knowledge transfer into India's defence industrial ecosystem, while strengthening self-reliance. Local assembly of the Javelin All Up Round will enhance operational readiness and ensure timely access to proven, combat-ready capability for the Indian Armed Forces,” Singh added.

The Javelin weapon system is developed and manufactured by the Javelin Joint Venture, which brings together Raytheon in Tucson, Arizona, and Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Florida. The system is designed as an anti-tank weapon and has been used by the US and partner nations.

The joint venture has produced more than 55,000 Javelin missiles and over 12,000 reusable Command Launch Units so far. The proposed Indian facility would add a new production location to the system's global supply network and give India a larger role in its assembly and manufacturing ecosystem.

The agreement does not yet represent confirmed missile production in India. The partners will first study the creation of the final assembly and integration facility and related component manufacturing capabilities. If the plan moves forward, it would deepen cooperation between Indian and US defence companies while expanding India's defence manufacturing capacity and strengthening supply-chain resilience.