Indian Navy has inducted two MH-60R Romeo multi-role helicopters from the US Navy.
This is the first batch of Romeos India ordered in its biggest contract with Sikorsky yet. In total, 24 MH-60Rs were ordered for $905 million in a deal which was announced in May 2020.
The Sikorsky MH-60R is a maritime utility helicopter with anti-surface and anti-submarine capability, capable of performing as search-and-rescue and communications relay aircraft as well.
The formal ceremony of induction of the first two aircraft was held at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, in the presence of Commander USN Naval Air Forces, Vice Admiral Kenneth Whitesell, Indian Navy Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh, and Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian Ambassador to the USA.
The rest of the aircraft are going to be delivered through 2024. India has also signed additional contracts for logistics, sustainment and support services, with the total price of all the contracts topping at $2.6 billion.
