Article Posted on : - Nov 12, 2010

A soldier from the Indian army fires the Javelin anti-tank missile on Nov. 8 during Yudh Abhyas 2010. A US Army photo

DONNELLY TRAINING AREA, ALASKA (BNS): Indian Army soldiers have conducted Javelin anti-tank missile live-fire test along with the US Army personnel during the annual Yudh Abhyas 2010 bilateral training exercise in the US.

Surrounded by the snow capped mountains of the Alaskan Range, soldiers from the US’s 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st SBCT, 25th ID, and the Indian Army’s 62nd Infantry and 5th Parachute Regiment Brigade participated in a number of tactical training exercises culminating in a Javelin anti-tank missile live-fire, the US Army said in a statement.

Two Javelin anti-tank missiles were test fried on November 8 which “hit a target with pin-point accuracy,” the statement said.

India has decided to buy the third-generation Javelin missile system from the US under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route.

The Javelin is a ‘fire-and-forget’ missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance. The system takes a top-attack flight profile against armoured vehicles (attacking the top armour which is generally thinner) but can also take a direct-attack mode for use against buildings or fortifications.

This missile also has the capability to engage helicopters in direct-attack mode.