The Indian Navy is procuring 24 of these helicopters manufactured by Lockheed Martin from the US government as part of foreign military sales at an estimated cost of $2.4 billion.
A ceremony was held at Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island, San Diego on Friday to mark the formal transfer of helicopters from the US Navy to the Indian Navy. It was attended by the Ambassador of India US Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
The ceremony also saw an exchange of documents between Vice Admiral Kenneth Whitesell, Commander Naval Air Forces, US Navy and Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh, DCNS. senior leadership of the US Navy and Lockheed Martin Corporation were also present. Sandhu said the induction of multi-role helicopters in all-weather is an important milestone in India-US bilateral defense ties.
“India-US friendship is touching the sky!” He said in a tweet. He said bilateral defense trade has grown to over $20 billion in the last few years.
Today, @indiannavy inducted its first two MH-60R Seahawks from @USNavy during a ceremony at Naval Air State… https://t.co/kxFgTyPJyf
— flynavy (@flynavy) 1626482166000
He said that moving beyond defense trade, India and the US are also working together on co-production and co-development of defense platforms.
Sandhu also highlighted the reform measures undertaken by India in the defense sector in the recent past, which have opened up new opportunities for foreign investors.
The MH-60R helicopter is an all-weather helicopter designed to support multiple missions with state-of-the-art avionics.
The induction of these MRHs will enhance the three-dimensional capabilities of the Indian Navy. Helicopters will also be modified with many unique equipment and weapons.
The first batch of the Indian contingent is currently undergoing training in the US. According to the Defense Department, the proposed sale would give India the capability to undertake anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions, as well as secondary missions including vertical replenishment, search and rescue, and communications relay.
India will use its increased capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen the defense of its homeland. India will have no difficulty in absorbing these helicopters into its armed forces, it had said in a communication to the Congress in April 2019.
The Indian cabinet had approved the purchase of helicopters in February 2020, weeks before the historic visit of the then US President Donald Trump.
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