Strengthing the Naval Aviation! India receives first two Of 24 MH-60R Maritime Helicopters from US
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San Diego, July 17: Deepening the defence ties with India, United States Navy has handed over the first two Sikorsky MH-60R multi-role helicopters to the Indian Navy at Naval Air Station in North Island.
Indian Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Indian Navy Deputy Chief Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh received the first batch of two MH-60 Romeo helicopters during the handing over ceremony.
"The ceremony marked the formal transfer of these helicopters from US Navy to Indian Navy, which were accepted by His Excellency Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian Ambassador to the USA. The ceremony also witnessed the exchange of helicopter documents between Vice Admiral Kenneth Whitesell, Commander Naval Air Forces, US Navy and Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (DCNS), Indian Navy," said an Indian Navy spokesperson in a statement.
It should be noted that India had last year signed a $2.6 billion deal with the US for procurement of 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters for the Indian Navy. The deal was sealed under a government-to-government (G2G) deal under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
MH-60R helicopter is an all-weather helicopter designed to support multiple missions with state-of-the-art avionics/ sensors. The choppers are also capable of hunting submarines as well as knocking out ships and conducting search-and-rescue operations at sea. The 24 MH-60 Romeos would be equipped with multi-mode radars and night-vision devices as well as armed with Hellfire missiles, torpedoes, and precision-guided weaponry. The helicopters would also be modified with several India-unique equipment and weapons.
"The induction of these helicopters would further enhance the Indian Navy's three-dimensional capabilities," the spokesperson said.
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