The Indian Navy will commission the first MH 60R Seahawk helicopter squadron on Wednesday to boost its anti-submarine capabilities.
The squadron consists of six armed aircraft featuring AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, MK 54 torpedoes, and Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System rockets.
India bought 24 MH 60R multi-role helicopters from the US in 2020 for $2.2 billion.
MH 60r 'Seahawks' to Be Commissioned into the Indian Navy as the INAS 334 Squadron
The Indian Navy will commission the newly inducted MH 60R Seahawk (a maritime variant of the Blackhawk helicopter) multi-role helicopter on 06 Mar 2024 at INS Garuda, Kochi marking a pivotal… pic.twitter.com/lgEnW2PxOQ
— DD India (@DDIndialive) March 4, 2024
Expected Roles
They will replace the aging British-built Sea King helicopters, with the rest of the MH 60Rs expected to be delivered by 2025, according to the Hindustan Times.
The twin-engine Sikorsky helicopters (a maritime Blackhawk variant) can operate from various warships and aircraft carriers.
Their expected roles include anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and vertical replenishment.
To ‘Enhance India’s Blue-Water Capabilities’
The commissioning comes amid growing threats of piracy and Houthi missile attacks on merchant vessels in the Indian Ocean.
China is also trying to increase its presence in the region, which includes various commercial shipping lanes.
“The MH 60R helicopter would enhance India’s blue-water capabilities, extending the operational reach of the Navy and supporting sustained naval operations across spectrums and over vast maritime domains,” the Indian Ministry of Defence said in a press release.
“The Seahawk’s deployment in the IOR (Indian Ocean Region) would strengthen the Indian Navy’s maritime presence, dissuading potential threats and ensuring a secure and safe environment in this strategically crucial region.”
Russian Helicopter Upgrade
Simultaneously, India is reportedly upgrading its fleet of 10 Russian-origin Kamov-28 helicopters for an estimated $300 million.
The two-pronged upgrade includes overhauling the aircraft in Russia and then outfitting them with superior sensors, weapon suites, and mission computers in India.
