In a major step towards strengthening India&rsquo;s naval capabilities, the Ministry of Defence announced on Friday that it has signed a Rs 7,995 crore agreement with the United States to provide sustainment support for the Indian Navy&rsquo;s MH-60R helicopter fleet. The five-year pact includes Follow-on Support and Follow-on Supply Support under the US Foreign Military Sales programme.
The agreement, formalized through Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh, will ensure the availability of spares, support equipment, technical assistance, training, repair services, and the establishment of intermediate component repair and periodic maintenance facilities in India.
The initiative aims to build domestic maintenance capabilities, reducing long-term dependence on foreign sources and promoting the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. It also opens avenues for MSMEs and Indian firms to participate in indigenous product and service development.
The sustainment support is expected to significantly improve the operational readiness and maintainability of the MH-60R helicopters, which are equipped with advanced anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare systems. These versatile, all-weather helicopters can operate from ships and dispersed locations, ensuring optimal performance in all mission scenarios.
Equipped with cutting-edge sensors such as multi-mode radar, electronic support measures, electro-optical/infrared cameras, datalinks, survivability systems, dipping sonar, and sonobuoys, the MH-60R delivers transformational capabilities for modern naval operations worldwide. [Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed.]

India Signs $1B US Deal for Navy MH-60R Support

Rs 7,995 crore pact enhances MH-60R helicopters’ capabilities and domestic maintenance

India Signs $1B US Deal for Navy MH-60R Support

Rs 7,995 crore pact enhances MH-60R helicopters’ capabilities and domestic maintenance

November 28, 2025 | 23:14 IST