MH-60R Helicopters: The Game Changer of Indian Ocean

MH -60 Romeo helicopters are soon going to be inducted in the Indian Navy. It is made by the Subsidiary Company Sikorsky of Lockhead Martin. MH-60 R helicopters are considered to be world’s most advanced maritime helicopters.

During the India visit of Donald Trump, India signed almost 3.5 billion dollars worth deal with United States and bought 24 MH -60 R helicopters. Out of these 24 helicopters, three would be given to Indian Navy in the next one to two months. Currently 18 Indian Navy personnel are undergoing training in US Naval Air Station Pensacola and North Island for operating this helicopter. If we look at the timeline of the deal ,our Ministry of defence approved the proposal of purchase of 24 MH-60R Helicopters in 2018. In 2019 US defence security cooperation agency approved it’s sale and in 2020 India-United States signed this deal officially.

By the end of 2025, all helicopters will be inducted in Indian Navy. After all, there must be some reason behind the tag of being world’s most advanced maritime helicopter. The MH-60R Helicopters can be effectively employed for offensive and defensive roles. The helicopter is called multi-role because of its broad spectrum of usability .The helicopter is capable of anti submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue operation, logistic support , vertical replenishment , personal transfer, medical evacuation.

Adding to this, the helicopter is capable of low intensity maritime operation, over the horizon centric operation and electronic warfare. The foldable rotors and tail are the biggest USP of this helicopter. Because of this specialty, this helicopter takes less space and could be easily deployed on smaller warships like frigates. If we talk about it’s specifications, the forward looking Infrared Sensors in its nose can convert the heat emitted from an object into electric signals and can create an accurate image of the object . The Electronic support measures of this helicopter can detect a threat by checking the electromagnetic radiation of an area, the glass cockpit of this helicopter is a multi-mission digital cockpit which is capable of both day vision and night vision.

The helicopter has fantastic navigation capability due to dual embedded inertial navigation system as well as global positioning system. The electronic warfare suit of this helicopter is very strong . It is equipped with missile warning system, laser warning system, infrared missile jamming system.

Necessity and importance in Indian Navy

MH-60R helicopter is a replacement for Sea king 42/42A helicopter that are already decommissioned in 1990’s since a long time, Indian Navy is facing the shortage of helicopters in its frontline warships . As a submarine hunting aircraft, Boeing’s P8 Poseidon is deployed in Indian Navy. Due to its humongous size, this aircraft operates from the shore and for any task  it has to return to shore for refueling. Due to its foldable rotors and tails, MH-60R helicopters could be carried on small frigates too. The helicopter has the ability to take off from the frigate and hover over a area where they suspect the presence of a submarine.

These helicopters will operate from front line warships including aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya. These helicopters are a potent weapons against the Chinese presence in Indian ocean region. Indo -Pacific is turning into a hotspot of maritime domain for Indian Navy do carry out lethal operations. At such time when Chinese nuclear and diesel-electric submarines are making regular forays into India the presence of this helicopter is vital for Indian Navy.

Our adversaries are operating submarines in choke points like Malacca strait, gulf of Aden and the Hormuz. When India calls itself a blue water force then keeping Indo-pacific free from any unilateral domination and establishing rule-based order becomes even more important for India.

For all of these we need to be up to date. This kind of defence procurement keep us up to date. MH-60R helicopters  are currently being used by countries like Spain, Turkey, Australia, and United States. This will prove a game changer for Indian Navy and strengthen its claim of being a blue water force.