The Indian Navy’s first batch of pilots and sensor operators have successfully completed training on the MH-60R multi-role helicopter (MRH).
The training was conducted for a period of ten months.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Aircrew received the training from the US Navy’s Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 41 (HSM-41) at Naval Air Station in North Island, San Diego.
During the training period, the Indian Navy’s aircrew performed day and night deck landing qualifications aboard a US Navy destroyer.
It also included conversion drills and several advanced qualifications on the MH 60R helicopter.
According to the Indian Navy, the MH-60R multi-role helicopters, also known as Romeo, can perform several missions, including anti-ship strikes, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), specialised maritime operations and search and rescue operations.
The trained batch of pilots and sensor operators will be responsible for inducting the anti-submarine hunter helicopters Romeo into the Indian Navy.
Built by Lockheed Martian, the MRH will also boost the Indian Navy’s capability to conduct a range of operations in all weather conditions in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
A spokesperson from the Indian Navy tweeted: “They would be responsible for inducting the versatile ‘Romeo’ into Indian Navy – arrival in India commencing mid-2022. Induction of this advanced all-weather maritime multi-mission Helo would provide a fillip to Indian Navy’s operations in the IOR.”
Earlier in 2019, the US Navy approved a foreign military sale (FMS) of 24 MH-60R helicopters for the Indian Navy under a government-to-government deal.
Under the deal, the US Navy delivered the first batch of two MH-60R MRH to the Indian Navy in July last year.
