Indian Navy To Procure 24 MH-60R Seahawk Helicopters | Lockheed Martin | Sikorsky

Indian Navy To Procure 24 MH-60R Seahawk Helicopters | Lockheed Martin | Sikorsky

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For decades, the Indian Navy’s Sea King Mk 42B/C helicopters carried anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions but with the Sea King being retired, the helicopter hangars on Indian warships are empty. This depleting strength of such Navy choppers are severely reducing the warships’ combat capability.

Looking these vital requirements, India is finally concluding a procurement contract for multi-role helicopters and a contract will be signed in November 2019 with the US Department of Defense for 24 Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawks. The deal is estimated to approx. for $2-to-2.6 billion.

This includes the cost of 24 fully kitted and armed helicopters, along with 12 spare engines, six spare multi-mode radars and six multi-spectral targeting systems. The deal includes 1,000 sonobuoys, or portable sonar systems, for detecting enemy submarines; and Hellfire missiles, rockets and torpedoes to destroy surface and sub-surface targets.

These Seahawk choppers with foldable blades will be stationed on naval warships to perform a range of combat missions. These include anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), combat search and rescue (CSAR) and medical evacuation (MEDEVAC). The Seahawk is also used to fly in Special Forces for commando missions.

Given the urgency, the navy is buying 24 MH-60R Seahawks in flyaway condition, and then plans to build another 99 in India through the Strategic Partnership. For building them in India, Lockheed Martin will transfer manufacturing technology to the Indian strategic partner which is Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL). The two collaborate in building a range of aerospace components in Hyderabad and have announced a partnership to build the F-16 fighter in India if the Indian Air Force buys the aircraft.

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