MH-60R helicopter
India has signed a major defense agreement with the US government for the care, maintenance and support of the state-of-the-art MH-60R helicopters of the Indian Navy. The estimated value of this agreement is around Rs 7,995 crore and its duration will be five years. Giving this information on Friday, the Defense Ministry said that for this, Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) were signed between the two countries.
These LOAs were signed under America's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, and during this, Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh was also present. According to the ministry, this agreement will further strengthen the routine maintenance and repair of MH-60R helicopters along with increasing their operational capability.
It was told by the ministry that this support package is very comprehensive. This includes availability of spare parts, support equipment, training and technical assistance. Apart from this, there is also a provision for repair of important parts of helicopters and their replenishment if needed. Intermediate level repair and periodic maintenance check facilities will be established in India itself, which will reduce the dependence on foreign countries for servicing these helicopters in future.
According to the Defense Ministry, the development of these facilities in India will give a strong boost to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission. Increasing capability domestically will not only benefit the Army but will also provide new opportunities to Indian MSMEs and other private companies in the defense sector. This will increase the development of indigenous products and services in the country rapidly.
MH-60R helicopters are of great importance for the Indian Navy. They are capable of flying in all weather conditions and also have modern technology like Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). According to the ministry, this new support package will not only increase the availability of these helicopters but will also enable them to be operated more effectively from ships and different bases. This will further strengthen the Navy's surveillance capability, mission preparedness and maritime security.
