WASHINGTON DC: India receiving two MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters from the US Navy and the tenth P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance plane will strengthen cooperation and interoperability between the navies of the 2 international locations, the Pentagon stated.
The Indian Navy is procuring a complete of 24 MH-60R multi-role helicopters, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, from the US beneath overseas navy gross sales at an estimated price of USD 2.4 billion.
A ceremony was held on the Naval Air Station North Island or NAS North Island, San Diego on Friday, marking the formal switch of the helicopters from the US Navy to the Indian Navy.
“The Division (of Defence) wish to congratulate our companions within the Indian Navy who final week obtained the primary two of 24 MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters from the US Navy and their tenth Boeing, P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance plane in Goa, India,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby advised reporters at his information convention on Monday.
“India was the primary nation outdoors the US to function the P-8 for surveillance missions within the Indo-Pacific. These capabilities will considerably improve maritime safety and strengthen cooperation and interoperability between our two navies,” he stated.
The MH-60R helicopter is an all-weather maritime helicopter designed to assist a number of missions with state-of-the-art avionics.
The helicopters would even be modified with a number of distinctive gear and weapons.
The primary batch of the Indian crew is presently present process coaching within the US.
In a press release, William Blair, vice chairman and chief govt of Lockheed Martin India, stated, “MH-60R is essentially the most superior maritime multi-mission helicopter in operation – deployed globally, and its mission efficiency by far, second to none. We admire the large confidence positioned in Group Seahawk by the Indian Navy by their number of the Romeo. We stand dedicated to creating this program an incredible success in partnership with the US Navy and the Indian Navy,” he stated.
Hamid Salim, vice chairman, Sikorsky Maritime and Mission Methods stated the supply of the primary two MH-60R Romeo helicopters to the Indian Navy marks the start of a brand new period of collaboration and partnership between the US Navy, the Indian Navy and Sikorsky.
“We’re dedicated to standing shoulder to shoulder with the US Navy to assist the Indian Naval Forces sooner or later by functionality upgrades and sustainment because the plane transitions to the Indian Navy,” he stated.
The Indian cupboard had cleared the acquisition of the MH-60R helicopters in February 2020, weeks earlier than the go to of the then US President Donald Trump.
