India received two MH-60 multi-role helicopters (MRH) from the United States on Saturday, after a long wait of more than a decade. These two are the first in a line of orders that the Indian Navy placed with the United States navy.
India is procuring 24 of these helicopters from the US government under foreign military sales. The choppers would be modified with many "India-unique" equipment and weapons, military officials with the matter told news agency ANI.
The helicopters were formally handed over by the US Navy to the Indian Navy in a ceremony held at the United States naval air station in San Diego's North Island. The choppers were accepted from the Indian side by Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian ambassador to the USA.
Helicopter documents were also exchanged between officials of the United States Navy and the Indian Navy.
"The ceremony marked the formal transfer of these helicopters from US navy to Indian Navy, which were accepted by His Excellency Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian Ambassador to the USA," a spokesperson of the Indian Navy said.
"The ceremony also witnessed the exchange of helicopter documents between Vice Admiral Kenneth Whitesell, Commander Naval Air Forces, US Navy and Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh, deputy chief of naval staff (DCNS), Indian Navy," the spokesperson said in a statement.
{{/usCountry}}"The ceremony also witnessed the exchange of helicopter documents between Vice Admiral Kenneth Whitesell, Commander Naval Air Forces, US Navy and Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh, deputy chief of naval staff (DCNS), Indian Navy," the spokesperson said in a statement.
{{/usCountry}}MH-60R helicopter is an all-weather helicopter designed to support multiple missions with state-of-the-art avionics and sensors. In order to exploit these potent helicopters, the first batch of Indian crew is presently undergoing training in the USA. The induction of these MRH is expected to further enhance the Indian Navy's three-dimensional capabilities.
(With inputs from agencies)