New Delhi: India has signed a ₹7,995 crore agreement with the United States to provide long-term sustainment support for the Indian Navy’s MH-60R helicopters. The pact covers Follow-on Support and Follow-on Supply Support for a period of five years, the Defence Ministry announced on Friday.
The Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) were signed with the US government under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in New Delhi.
According to the ministry, the sustainment support package is comprehensive, covering the provisioning of spares, support equipment, product support, training, technical assistance, component repair and replenishment, and the establishment of Intermediate-level component repair and Periodic Maintenance Inspection facilities within India.
The creation of these in-country facilities will strengthen India’s long-term self-reliance, reducing dependence on the US and advancing the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ vision. Officials said the initiative is expected to boost indigenous product development and service ecosystem growth through MSMEs and Indian defence firms.
The Defence Ministry noted that the support framework will significantly enhance the operational readiness and maintainability of the MH-60R — a technologically advanced, all-weather, multi-role helicopter equipped with Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) capabilities.
This arrangement will also facilitate seamless helicopter operations from multiple locations, including deployed ships, ensuring optimal performance across all primary and secondary missions.
The MH-60R is considered a transformational platform for navies worldwide, bringing powerful ASW and anti-surface warfare (ASuW) capabilities. The rugged, reliable aircraft integrates advanced digital sensors such as multi-mode radar, electronic support measures, electro-optical/infrared systems, datalinks, survivability equipment, dipping sonar, and sonobuoys.
With inputs from IANS