Indian Navy receives first two 24 MH-60R helicopters from US

Indian Navy receives first two 24 MH-60R helicopters from US

Subject: Defence

Context: The 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, San Diego on Friday.

Concept:

• The Indian Navy is procuring 24 MH-60R Multi Role Helicopters (MRH) manufactured by Lockheed Martin under foreign military sales from the US government at an estimated cost of $2.4 billion.

MH-60 Romeo helicopters

• The incoming 24 multirole MH-60 Romeo helicopters are expected to boost the Indian Navy’s efforts to expand its role in the Indian Ocean Region.
• The MH-60 Romeo Seahawk, made by Defence giant Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced naval helicopters in the world, used by the US Navy among others.
• It is the most capable and mature Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) multi-mission helicopter available in the world today, the makers say.
• MH-60 Romeo Seahawks have equipped with anti-submarine Mark 54 torpedoes and Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, along with precision-kill rockets.
• It also has an advanced system for passive detection, location, and identification of emitters. It can not only track and hunt ships but is also used by the US Navy as an anti-submarine weapon.