Published: 16th Mar, 2020
United States President announced: “deals to sell over $3 billion in the absolute finest, state-of-the-art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian Armed Forces.”
Context
United States President announced: “deals to sell over $3 billion in the absolute finest, state-of-the-art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian Armed Forces.”
About
- Agreements for India to purchase advanced American military equipment, including Apache and MH-60 Romeo helicopters, will enhance our joint defence capabilities as the militaries continue to train and operate side-by-side.
MH-60 Romeo helicopters
- The incoming 24 multirole MH-60 Romeo helicopters are expected to boost the Indian Navy’s efforts to expand its role in the Indian Ocean Region.
- The Navy had long asked for these helicopters, and the $2.2 billion deal was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security.
- The MH-60 Romeo Seahawk, made by defence giant Lockheed Martin, is one of the most advanced naval helicopters in the world, used by the US Navy among others.
- It will be purchased directly from the US government under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement with the US Department of Defence (DoD).
- It is the most capable and mature Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) multi-mission helicopter available in the world today.
- The MH-60 is designed to hunt down submarines and will add to the strategic depth and combat capability of the Indian Navy.
- It is capable of launching Hellfire missiles from the right and left extended pylons.
- It also has an advanced system for passive detection, location, and identification of emitters.
- It can not only track and hunt ships but is also used by the US Navy as an anti-submarine weapon.
- MH-60 Romeo Seahawks have equipped with anti-submarine Mark 54 torpedoes and Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, along with precision-kill rockets.
Apache helicopters
- The Army will receive six Apache helicopters that will cost approximately $800 million.
- The six choppers for the Army will be in addition to the 22 Apache helicopters that have already been ordered for the Air Force.
- This will be a direct commercial sale.
- The Apaches can operate at high altitudes and will be deployed along the Pakistan border.
- The Army is likely to get the helicopters armed with Stinger air-to-air missiles and Hellfire Longbow air-to-ground missiles.
- Among the Apache’s modern capabilities is the ability to shoot fire-and-forget anti-tank missiles, air-to-air missiles, rockets, and other munitions.
- It also has modern electronic warfare capabilities to provide versatility in network-centric aerial warfare.
- The choppers are all-weather capable and have high agility and survivability against battle damage.
- They can be easily maintained in field conditions as well as during operations in the tropical and desert regions.
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