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NEW DELHI: The Navy will commission its first squadron of the submarine-hunting MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, armed with Hellfire missiles, MK-54 torpedoes and precision-kill rockets, at INS Garuda in Kochi on March 6.
The Navy has so far inducted six of the 24 MH-60R choppers, which are also equipped with multi-mode radars and night-vision devices, under a Rs 15,157 crore ($2.13 billion) contract inked with the US in Feb 2020.
The Seahawks squadron will be commissioned as INAS 334. “The Navy is set to witness a significant surge in its maritime prowess with the induction of these choppers,” an officer said Sunday. “The helicopters are designed for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuation and vertical replenishment,” he added.
Rigorously tested in the Indian Reference Atmosphere (IRA) conditions, the Seahawks have been fully integrated into the fleet to operate from aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and other frontline warships.
“The advanced weapons, sensors and avionics suite make the Seahawks ideal for maritime security needs, offering enhanced capabilities for both conventional as well as asymmetric threats. They will enhance India’s blue-water capabilities, extend the operational reach and support sustained naval operations across spectrums,” the officer said.
The new helicopters are crucial because the 140-warship Navy is currently grappling with just a handful of old anti-submarine warfare helicopters like Kamov-28s and Sea Kings.
The Navy has so far inducted six of the 24 MH-60R choppers, which are also equipped with multi-mode radars and night-vision devices, under a Rs 15,157 crore ($2.13 billion) contract inked with the US in Feb 2020.
The Seahawks squadron will be commissioned as INAS 334. “The Navy is set to witness a significant surge in its maritime prowess with the induction of these choppers,” an officer said Sunday. “The helicopters are designed for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, medical evacuation and vertical replenishment,” he added.
Rigorously tested in the Indian Reference Atmosphere (IRA) conditions, the Seahawks have been fully integrated into the fleet to operate from aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and other frontline warships.
“The advanced weapons, sensors and avionics suite make the Seahawks ideal for maritime security needs, offering enhanced capabilities for both conventional as well as asymmetric threats. They will enhance India’s blue-water capabilities, extend the operational reach and support sustained naval operations across spectrums,” the officer said.
The new helicopters are crucial because the 140-warship Navy is currently grappling with just a handful of old anti-submarine warfare helicopters like Kamov-28s and Sea Kings.
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