look news india
New Delhi, March 03 (HS). The Indian Navy will formally induct the American MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter into its fleet on 06 March, commissioned at INS Garuda, Kochi. This Seahawks squadron will be inducted into the Indian Navy as INAS 334. The Black Hawk is a maritime version of the helicopter, known as a 'flying frigate' at sea. In future, these Romeo helicopters will become the eyes and ears of the Indian Navy and will be able to destroy the enemy over long distances. Besides, this will further strengthen India's maritime warfare capability in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Indian Navy is purchasing 24 helicopters from American company Lockheed Martin under a deal worth $2.6 billion, which was signed during the visit of then US President Donald Trump to India in February 2020. So far, six MH-60R Seahawks have arrived in India under the deal. During the delivery of the first consignment, a team of 18 Indian Navy personnel went to the US to take training in flying helicopters. These helicopters were used to train the first Indian batch of air crew and technical crew in Pensacola, Florida and San Diego, USA.
Under the contract with the US Navy, the supply of all 24 helicopters will be completed by 2025. The induction of state-of-the-art mission capable platforms will significantly boost the various ASW capabilities of the Indian Navy. The acquisition of multi-role MH-60 Romeo helicopter will give India the ability to carry out anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare missions. Also, the three-dimensional capabilities of the Indian Navy will increase. India will use its enhanced capability to counter regional threats and strengthen its homeland defence.
This Seahawks squadron will be inducted into the Indian Navy as INAS 334, marking a significant moment in India's defense modernization journey. Multi-purpose US marine helicopter MH-60R is designed for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuation.
The MH60R helicopter will expand the Navy's operational reach while boosting India's maritime capabilities and support sustained naval operations in the vast maritime domain. The deployment of Seahawks in the IOR will strengthen the maritime presence of the Indian Navy. This will ensure a secure environment in this strategically important area. Equipped with advanced weapons, sensors and avionics suite, Seahawk is designed to meet the maritime security requirements of the Indian Navy, providing advanced capabilities against both conventional and asymmetric threats.