The Indian Navy is all set to receive its first set of multi-role helicopters as America is set to hand over three MH-60 Romeo helicopters.
The handing over of the three choppers will be done in the month of July after a long wait of over a decade.
According to sources, it has been informed that the first batch of Indian pilots had reached US soil for training on the helicopters.
Indian and the US had already signed over Rs. 16,000 crore deal to buy 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters from Lockheed Martin in 2020. The deal was done under fast track procedures on a government-to-government deal so as to hasten the dealing procedure.
A top-ranking Navy official comment – “the first batch of the Indian pilots have already reached the US for training on the helicopters and it is likely that we will receive three helicopters in July.”
US to hand over 3 multi-role choppers to India in July
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The initial training of the pilots will first take place in Florida. Later it will be moved to San Diego, California. All the 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters will be equipped with multiple modes of radars and night vision devices.
All the helicopters will be armed with Hellfire missiles, precision-guided weaponry, and torpedoes.
The Indian Navy has decided to replace Sea Kings with the MH-60 Romeos as the former would be on their way out of the force very soon.
MH-60 Romeos are designed to operate from aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, and frigates.
The choppers are well designed for hunting down submarines and are also useful in knocking out ships. It can also conduct search and rescue operations at sea.
Meanwhile, India is also working on finalizing a deal with the US for the procurement of 30 Predator drones.
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