Washington: The US has approved the sale of 24 multi-role MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters to India at an estimated cost of USD 2.6 billion, the State Department announced Tuesday. This new acquisition will boost Indian Navy’s anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare operations as China expands its presence in the Indian Ocean.
Designed for hunting submarines as well as knocking out ships and conducting search-and-rescue operations at sea, the Lockheed Martin-built helicopters, would replace India’s aging fleet of British-made Sea King helicopters. The Trump administration Tuesday notified the Congress that it has approved the sale of the mean machines that will provide the Indian defence forces the capability to perform anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions.
The helicopters are designed to operate from frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers.
The sale will improve the security of a major defensive partner which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region, the US said in a statement.
“The proposed sale will provide India the capability to perform anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions along with the ability to perform secondary missions including vertical replenishment, search and rescue, and communications relay,” said the Congressional notification. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region, it said.
The MH-60R Seahawks would add lethal capabilities of the Indian Navy, which experts say is the need of the hour given the aggressive behaviour of China in the Indian Ocean region.
According to industry experts, the MH-60R Seahawks is the most capable naval helicopter available today designed to operate from frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers.
As the Navy’s next generation submarine hunter and anti-surface warfare helicopter, the MH-60R Seahawk is considered to be the cornerstone of the Navy’s Helicopter Concept of Operations.
PTI