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.