Rotorcraft
Indian Navy Receives Approval for New Helicopters
After a long saga, the Indian Navy has been granted approval to buy the Sikorsky MH-60R through FMS channels, as well as a new utility helicopter
The Indian Navy has been approved to buy the MH-60R from Sikorsky to replace the dwindling fleet of Westland Sea Kings, the first of which entered service in 1971. Here a late 1980s-vintage Sea King Mk 42B is seen in June this year while visiting the U.S. Navy carrier Ronald Reagan. (photo: U.S. Navy)
The Indian Navy has been approved to buy the MH-60R from Sikorsky to replace the dwindling fleet of Westland Sea Kings, the first of which entered service in 1971. Here a late 1980s-vintage Sea King Mk 42B is seen in June this year while visiting the U.S. Navy carrier Ronald Reagan. (photo: U.S. Navy)

The Indian Ministry of Defence has finally granted approval to acquire 24 anti-submarine and anti-ship Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH) in answer to a decade-old "urgent" requirement. The news does not come a day too soon for the Indian Navy (IN). The proposal is to acquire Sikorsky MH-60Rs (“Romeos”) by a U.S. Foreign Military Sales channel. Earlier a direct-sale of the similar Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk had been approved in principle but foundered over drawn-out price negotiations.