India and US Seal Crucial Defence Pact for Naval Helicopters
In a significant move to bolster its maritime capabilities, India formally signed Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) with the United States on Friday for a comprehensive sustainment support package for the Indian Navy's fleet of MH-60R helicopters. The deal, valued at Rs 7,995 crore, ensures follow-on support and supply for a period of five years.
Details of the MH-60R Helicopter Fleet and Support Package
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh under the US government's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. This agreement builds upon the original 2020 deal where India procured 24 MH-60R helicopters, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, at an estimated cost of USD 2.4 billion. So far, 15 of these advanced choppers have been inducted into the Navy's fleet.
The newly signed sustainment support is a holistic package designed to maintain peak operational efficiency. It includes:
- Provisioning of spares and support equipment
- Product support, training, and technical assistance
- Repair and replenishment of components
- Establishment of 'Intermediate' level component repair facilities in India
- Periodic maintenance inspection facilities within the country
Strategic Implications and Boost to Self-Reliance
According to a Defence Ministry statement, this support will enable the MH-60R helicopters to operate from dispersed locations and ships, ensuring they perform optimally during all primary and secondary missions. These technologically advanced, all-weather helicopters are particularly valued for their anti-submarine warfare capability.
A crucial aspect of this deal is its alignment with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The in-country development of maintenance and repair facilities will foster long-term capability building and reduce future dependence on the US government. The ministry further highlighted that this initiative would spur indigenous product and services development through MSMEs and other Indian firms.
This agreement marks another major defence contract with the US in recent weeks, following approvals for potential foreign military sales of Excalibur Projectiles and the Javelin Missile System, underscoring the deepening defence partnership between the two nations.
