The Author is Former Director General of Information Systems and A Special Forces Veteran, Indian Army

The induction of MH-60Rs will significantly boost the integral Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capability and the capability to conduct a range of operations in all weather conditions in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The addition of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters will also help boost the combat power of the Indian Navy.

The Indian Navy has received 2 x MH-60R multi-role helicopters at Kochi. The MH-60R helicopters is designed and built by Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky. In 2019, The US Department of State had approved the sale of 24 x MH-60R multi-mission helicopters to India under its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. A Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LoA) for procurement of 24 MH-60R multi-role helicopters was concluded with the US Government in February 2020 at a cost of more than 14,000 crores. The MH-60R helicopters have been selected by the navies of the US, Denmark, Australia and Saudi Arabia. Indian Navy will be the latest user.

In 2019, The US Department of State had approved the sale of 24 x MH-60R multi-mission helicopters to India under its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme

The Indian Navy's first MH-60R production helicopter conducted its maiden flight in Owego, New York in April 2021. The flight was carried out at Lockheed Martin’s Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) plant. The first 3 x MH-60Rs delivered in US in 2021 are being utilised for training of the crew. The next three MH-60R helicopters are being delivered at Kochi, two helicopters of which were received by the Indian Navy at Cochin International Airport on July 22, 2022, and the third MH-60R helicopter is scheduled to be delivered in August 2022.The delivery of all 24 x MH-60R helicopters is to be completed by 2025.

America’s Sikorsky Aircraft (now part of Lockheed Martin) developed the MH-60R Seahawk multi-mission naval helicopter, also called ‘Romeo’, in order to replace the US Navy's legacy SH-60B and SH-60F helicopter fleet. Developed from a SH-60B, the first MH-60R helicopter made its first flight in July 2001. The first two new-build MH-60Rs were delivered to the US Navy in August 2005. The first Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71 equipped with MH-60Rs was established by the US Navy at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, San Diego, in October 2007. The US Navy received the 200th MH-60R in November 2014.

The MH-60R helicopters have been selected by the navies of the US, Denmark, Australia and Saudi Arabia. Indian Navy will be the latest user.

The MH-60R integrates advanced mission systems and sensors developed by Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training (MST). The fully Integrated Mission System builds complete situational awareness and actionable knowledge, enabling target engagement both close-in and over-the-horizon. The helicopter can be launched from aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruise ships, frigates and amphibious ships.

The MH-60R is loaded with Advanced Common Cockpit avionics suite which enables the aircrew to perform diverse missions, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), surveillance, communications relay, search and rescue (SAR), naval gunfire support (NGFS), personnel transport, vertical replenishment (VERTREP) and logistics support. The Common Cockpit avionics suite is based on open architecture and commercial-off-the-shelf technology, which is embedded with digital communications suite. It is equipped with integrated Global Positioning System and Inertial Navigation System.

The MH-60R helicopter incorporates new Telephonics APS-147 multimode radar, which employs inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) technique to perform imaging and periscope detection at short/long ranges. The rotorcraft utilises Raytheon-developed AN/AQS-22 airborne low-frequency sonar (ALFS) subsystem for littoral and underwater warfare missions. The ALFS subsystem is integrated with a dipping sonar and sonobuoy processing capability. The Advanced ALQ-210 electronic support measures (ESM) system is also installed to detect, locate and identify threats. It is complemented by an ESM autoloader and the development of mission data loads.

A second generation AAS-44 forward-looking infrared (FLIR) electro-optical (EO) system onboard the MH-60R provides increased surveillance of the battlefield during low light conditions. It also offers Hellfire targeting capability. The helicopter is integrated with a data link for data transmission, an ARC210 Gen 5 multi-function radio for flexible and secure communication, and chaff and flare decoys dispenser. It also features an integrated self-defence system for protection against RF, IF, laser and missile threats.

The delivery of all 24 x MH-60R helicopters is to be completed by 2025

For armament, the MH-60R helicopter can be armed with Mk 54 lightweight torpedoes for ASW missions. It can carry a number of weapons, including eight Hellfire anti-surface missiles and .50 calibre guns for ASuW missions. Offensive capabilities are improved by the addition of new Mk 54 air-launched torpedoes and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. The Indian Navy MH-60R weapons package is expected to include Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile in its helicopter launched variant (known as NSM-HL).

With the focus on Atmanirbhar in Defence, a tender for 111 Naval Utility Helicopters (NUH), under the Strategic Partnership route of procurement procedure, is likely to be scrapped. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has already outlined the direction in this regard, which is to support domestic defence industry and procure military utility and combat helicopters from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

The helicopter can be launched from aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruise ships, frigates and amphibious ships

The MH-60Rs are a replacement of the Navy’s ageing Sea King 42/42A helicopters. The induction of MH-60Rs will significantly boost the integral Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capability of the Indian Navy and the capability to conduct a range of operations in all weather conditions in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This is an important development as the Navy is facing an acute shortage of helicopters on its frontline warships.

With China’s aggressive moves in waters of the Indo-Pacific, the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is fast becoming the centre of gravity of conflict. Additionally, China and Turkey are both assisting Pakistan to increase its naval power. The addition of MH-60R Seahawk helicopters with a range of over 700 km will help boost the combat power of the Indian Navy.