The government on Thursday, 16 November, issued the “letter of request” to the US government for the Rs 13,500-crore acquisition of 24 naval multi-role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ helicopters, armed with torpedoes and missiles for potent anti-submarine warfare capabilities, reported the Times of India, quoting sources.
These choppers are expected to aid the Navy, whose warships, the report suggests, are virtually bereft of such helicopters . Acquisition of new multi-role helicopters has reportedly been pending for well over a decade, with the Navy identifying them along with submarines and minesweepers as the top three “critical operational necessities” for it.
The government-to-government deal for the MH-60 choppers, manufactured by Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin, under the US foreign military sales programme, is likely to be inked within a year.
The prospective new deal comes at a time when the US waiver for India’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 Triumf missile systems hanging in the balance.
(With inputs from Times of India)
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