The Indian Navy has received its first MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter from the United States, with two additional aircraft scheduled for delivery in the coming months, according to official sources. The delivery marks a significant milestone in India-US defence cooperation and strengthens the Navy’s anti-submarine and maritime strike capabilities.
The MH-60R is a carrier-capable, twin-engine helicopter designed for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and search-and-rescue operations. It represents a substantial upgrade over the earlier Sea King helicopters that have served the Indian Navy since the 1960s, offering modern avionics, enhanced sensor suites, and greater operational range.
India ordered 24 MH-60R helicopters from Sikorsky Aircraft under a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) agreement valued at approximately $2.4 billion. The procurement was approved in 2020 as part of New Delhi’s effort to modernise its maritime helicopter fleet and bridge capability gaps in anti-submarine defence. The first three aircraft are now in the delivery pipeline.
The MH-60R will be equipped with advanced avionics including active phased-array radar for detecting and tracking surface and subsurface targets. The helicopter carries a suite of modern sensors, sonobuoys for underwater detection, and can deploy anti-ship missiles, making it a potent tool for maritime interdiction and fleet protection in the Indian Ocean Region.
The platform’s arrival comes as the Indian Navy faces evolving maritime security challenges, including the need to counter submarine activity from near-peer competitors. The MH-60R’s interoperability with US Navy systems and NATO standards will also enhance India’s ability to conduct joint operations with friendly naval forces during multilateral exercises and contingency operations.
Induction of the MH-60R aligns with India’s broader strategy to acquire proven foreign platforms where indigenous development timelines are extended. The helicopter will be operated from India’s naval air stations and deployed aboard guided-missile destroyers and frigates, complementing the Navy’s existing rotary-wing assets.
The MH-60R represents continuity in the India-US defence partnership, which has expanded significantly over the past decade through defence technology agreements, joint military exercises, and defence trade initiatives. The helicopter purchase underscores New Delhi’s confidence in American platforms and the deepening strategic alignment between the two maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific region.
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