Multi Role Helicopters (MRH) to be inducted into Indian Navy

[WolfPack86]

6 more Apaches and 30 Armed Naval Choppers finalised for $3.5-bn before of Trump's visit to India
India has finalized two more mega defence deals with the US, together worth over $3.5 billion (Rs 25,000 crore) for 30 heavy-duty armed helicopters, in the run-up to President Donald Trump’s visit here on February 24-25.

These soon-to-be-inked deals will take the total value of Indian defence contracts bagged by the US just since 2007 to well past the $20 billion mark. The $2.6 billion deal for 24 MH-60 `Romeo’ multi-mission helicopters for the Navy and the $930 million one for six AH-64E Apache attack choppers for the Army are set to be cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) by next week, said sources on Wednesday.

“India will pay an initial 15% instalment for the MH-60R helicopters under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) government-to-government deal. Once the contract is inked, the first lot of the choppers will be delivered in two years. All 24 will come in four to five years,” said a source.


The “direct commercial sale” of the six Apaches, in turn, is basically a follow-on order to the 22 such helicopters already inducted by IAF under a Rs 13,952 crore deal inked with the US in September 2015. “The Army should get the deliveries of the six choppers, armed with Stinger air-to-air missiles, Hellfire Longbow air-to-ground missiles, guns and rockets, around 2022-2023,” said a source.

The MH-60Rs, which are armed with Hellfire missiles, MK-54 torpedoes and precision-kill rockets, are considered a “critical operational necessity” for the Navy because its warships are virtually bereft of such helicopters at a time when Chinese nuclear and diesel-electric submarines are making regular forays into the Indian Ocean Region. The 140-warship force has just about a dozen old Sea King and 10 Kamov-28 anti-submarine warfare helicopters operational as of now.

As was first reported by TOI in June last year, the 24 MH-60Rs and six Apache helicopters are part of the several lucrative defence deals worth over $10 billion being lined up for the US by India over the next two-three years.

The others include six more P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft ($1.8 billion), the National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System-II for the missile shield over Delhi ($1.8 billion), 30 Sea Guardian armed drones (over $2.5 billion) and 13 big MK-45 naval gun systems for warships ($1.02 billion). “These deals will take some time to be finalized and inked,” said the source.

During his visit, President Trump is also expected to push the case for a US fighter -- F/A-18, F-15EX or F-21 (upgraded version of F-16) -- to be selected for the mega “Make in India” project to produce 114 jets for the IAF for around $20 billion. The US is also in contention to supply 57 multi-role fighters capable of operating from aircraft carriers for the Indian Navy.
India and the US have also identified seven defence projects for co-development and production under the bilateral Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). These include air-launched small aerial systems (drone swarms), light-weight small arms technology, ISTAR (intelligence, surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance) systems and anti-drone technology called “counter-UAS rocket, artillery and mortar systems”, as was reported by TOI in October last year.
https://www.defencenews.in/article/...$35-bn-before-of-Trumps-visit-to-India-809284

 

[WolfPack86]

BREAKING: $2.6 billion deal for 24
@Sikorsky
MH-60R helicopters for the
@IndianNavy
cleared by Indian Cabinet Committee on Security. Contract likely to be signed shortly after Trump’s visit next week.

 

[WolfPack86]

Cabinet clears $2.4 billion deal for MH-60 Romeo helicopters for Navy
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) Wednesday cleared a US $2.4 billion deal to purchase 24 American multi-role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ anti-submarine helicopters for the Indian Navy ahead of US President Donald Trump’s visit next week.

While the cabinet committee cleared the much-needed deal, it has not yet been confirmed if an actual signing of contract will take place during Trump’s visit or an announcement will be made, government sources said. However, they added the contract will be inked soon.

Trump will be in India on a two-day visit from February 24 and will travel to New Delhi and Ahmedabad.


In August 2018, then Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman approved the deal for the choppers, manufactured by the Lockheed Martin group, which can operate from Naval vessels. The US approved the sale in April 2019.

The new deal is being done under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route, which is the American equivalent of the government-to-government contracts India has carried out with Russia for various systems and the deal made with France for the Rafale fighter jets.


Boost to naval defence ::

The 24 helicopters are meant to meet the immediate need of the Indian Navy which is also pursuing a separate programme for 123 Naval Multi-Role Helicopters (NMRH) under the Make in India initiative.

The helicopters are expected to provide a big boost to the Navy, which is grappling with the ageing British-built Sea King fleet that is now mostly used for transport rather than its actual role — spotting enemy submarines.

Right now, the Boeing P8i aircraft, which operate from land, are being used to keep a vigil on enemy submarines.

Given the increasing forays by Chinese submarines in the Indian Ocean, the Indian Navy felt it was facing a severe capability gap.
https://www.defencenews.in/article/...l-for-MH-60-Romeo-helicopters-for-Navy-809365

 

[Wisemarko]

Need to understand how the language of DSCA works before getting too worked up. These 6 Apaches are not over or underpriced. They are sold at the same price to all customers.

Some history:
In 2010, the DSCA notified Congress about the sale to India of 22 AH-64D Apache helicopters (only the FMS portion) for $1.4 billion. In 2015, when the contract was finally signed, India paid only $900 million for the FMS portion of the contract.

With the DCS portion contracted for an additional $900 million, the entire sale cost India $1.8 billion — or $80 million per Apache, inclusive of large stocks of weapons and missiles.

Per unit cost of Apache would not increase $80 million even today. Rest of the cost is only an estimation of not to exceed cost. The US government will make sure that India does not pay a penny more than what US paid in last purchase.

Also, these costs include substantial amount of weapons, training and after sales support for entire Apache fleet.

Again, no country can beat US in providing quality products on time and at best rates.

 

[WolfPack86]

weapon package. 1) AGM-114 Hellfire 2) Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS) rockets 3) MK 54 torpedoes 4) M-240D Crew Served guns 5) GAU-21 Crew Served guns And in future, possible 6) Naval Strike Missiles

 

[WolfPack86]

BREAKING: Deal done
India signs deal with United States for 24
@Sikorsky
MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters for the Indian Navy. First six helicopters to be delivered earlier next year.

 

[WolfPack86]

India to get MH-60 Romeos in early 2021 to counter China, Pakistan
India and the US, during US President Trump's 36-hour whirlwind visit, finalised defence deals worth USD 3 billion under which 30 military helicopters will be procured from two American defence majors for Indian armed forces. Included in this is the Indian Navy's procurement of 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters at a cost of $2.6 billion.

The deal was sealed under a G2G deal under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

These helicopters would serve as replacements for the Sea King 42/42A helicopters that were already decommissioned in the 1990s. The choppers will operate from frontline ships and aircraft carriers providing them the critical attributes of flexibility of operation, enhanced surveillance and attacking capability.
The delivery of these helicopters is planned as early 2021 and comes at a time when the Indian Ocean Region is witnessing an increasing security threat due to proliferation of submarines.

The MH-60 is famously called as 'Romeo' and is known as a helicopter that can hunt submarines deep inside the ocean. Made by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, the helicopters can be effectively employed for offensive and defensive roles including Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Ship Strike, Low Intensity Maritime Operations, Search and Rescue, over the horizon Network Centric Operations and Electronic Warfare.

The acquisition of the MH-60R helicopters also provides the Indian Navy with a key capability and effectively contributes to the Make in India initiative. Lockheed Martin would transfer technology to Indian Partners for manufacture of products and services. This would then help in the absorption of niche technology, skill development and manufacture of eligible products leading to generation of jobs, skilling of MSMEs and indigenous production of products for buy-back by the OEM.
https://www.defencenews.in/article/...-early-2021-to-counter-China,-Pakistan-809450

 

[Hydra3]

weapon package. 1) AGM-114 Hellfire 2) Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS) rockets 3) MK 54 torpedoes 4) M-240D Crew Served guns 5) GAU-21 Crew Served guns And in future, possible 6) Naval Strike Missiles

Is it true that we are geting NSM cruise missile?

 

[Aniruddha Mulay]

Is it true that we are geting NSM cruise missile?

Yup, we are getting these bad boys with our MH-60R.

 

[Aniruddha Mulay]

Yup, we are getting these bad boys with our MH-60R.
View attachment 44749

We will be the first to use them in a helicopter launch role.
https://www.livefistdefence.com/201...missiles-for-indian-navys-incoming-helos.html

 

[WolfPack86]

Indian MH-60R helos to be Saudi-standard, plus national mods
The Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk maritime helicopters ordered by India will be built to the latest Saudi Arabian configuration, with some additional national-specific modifications. The new initial Indian baseline standard was disclosed on the US government’s beta.sam.gov website on 24 March, in which it was noted that the 24 helicopters recently ordered by the Indian government will be built to the same configuration as the 10 helicopters received by the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF), with some “unique modifications” also included. The RSNF MH-60Rs that were delivered from September 2018 are of a similar anti-surface vessel warfare (ASuW) and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) standard to the latest helicopters flying with the US Navy (USN), including AN/AAS-44C(V) multi-spectral targeting systems, AN/AVS-9 night-vision goggles, AN/SSQ-36/53/62 sonobuoys, Raytheon MK 54 torpedoes, and crew-served weapons. The RNSF standard that will form the baseline configuration for the Indian Navy (IN) adds the Lockheed Martin AGM-114R Hellfire II air-to-surface missile and BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) which, while integrated by the USN, are not typically carried. While the sole-source contract notification did not provide details of the Indian national-specific modifications, Jane’s previously reported that the IN is to fit its MH-60R helicopters with the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (becoming the first country to fit any helicopter with the anti-ship missile). Other national modifications will likely comprise communications and other such equipment.
https://idrw.org/indian-mh-60r-helos-to-be-saudi-standard-plus-national-mods/#more-223682

 

[Hydra3]

Yup, we are getting these bad boys with our MH-60R.
View attachment 44749

Good, infact much much smarter than Brahmos missile. Missiles like NSM will olay a better role in future warfare. Hope we will induct missiles like NSM in larger numbers.

 

[WolfPack86]

Pentagon awards LM for production and supply of 24 MH-60R in which 21 will go to the #IndianNavy
https://twitter.com/VinodDX9/status/1261126680640446470/photo/1

 

[WolfPack86]

IndianNavy will get 24 MH-60R , but according to sources at this moment , the contract is given to supply 3 platforms to #USNavy and 21 for India . Total cost 904.8 mln USD.

 

[WolfPack86]

Sikorsky signs $905 million deal for 24 MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters for Indian navy
Sikorsky officially signed a contract with the US Navy to provide 24 examples of the MH-60R helicopter to the Indian navy for anti-submarine warfare.


The $905 million deal with New Delhi was anticipated, as it was reportedly cleared by the Indian Ministry of Defence in February. The sale will be handled by the USN via the Foreign Military Sale process. The first helicopter delivery to the Indian Navy is anticipated in spring 2021.

In the official US government contract notice, the USN is ordering three MH-60Rs, while India is ordering 21 examples.


“The US Navy has allowed us to leverage three aircraft from their inventory of brand new aircraft that have never been introduced into the fleet — in order to provide them to the Indian Navy so they can begin training on a more accelerated basis than might normally be possible,” says Tom Kane, director of Sikorsky naval helicopter programmes.


Sikorsky declines to say what weapons and subsystems the Indian navy’s MH-60Rs would have. However, the manufacturer says the equipment would enable anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, as well as special operations, search and rescue, utility, vertical replenishment, and command and control missions.


Previously, the helicopters were to include weapons such as AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System rockets and Mk54 torpedoes and crew served guns, according to a Foreign Military Sales approval notice sent to the US Congress in 2019. The package was also to include multi-mode radars, sonobuoys and multi-spectral targeting systems.


However, that former notice valued the possible deal at $2.6 billion, much higher than the package announced today, so it is not clear what weapons and related equipment would be included in the final sale.


”The initial value of $905 million as announced by the US Navy today is for production of these aircraft. Additional follow-on work is required for unique modifications and systems, which is currently going through the bid and proposal process,” says Kane, noting Sikorsky is still negotiating with the US government. ”Prices can vary depending on specific requirements, unique equipment, length and scale of support, training and logistics packages.”

The main operator of the MH-60R helicopter is the USN, which has 289 examples in its fleet. It plans to fly the aircraft through 2040. The Royal Danish Navy, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Saudi Naval Forces fly the aircraft as well.


The Indian navy is also searching for 111 Naval Utility Helicopters to replace its aging fleet of Hindustan Aeronautics Chetak helicopters. Those new helicopters are intended for search and rescue, casualty evacuation, passenger and cargo transportation and torpedo drop roles.


India wants 95 helicopters out of the 111 Naval Utility Helicopters to be manufactured in country. The local offset would help replace production for the Chetak, a version of the Airbus Alouette III built in India under license.

Sikorsky signs $905 million deal for 24 MH-60R anti-submarine helicopters for Indian navy

Sikorsky has signed a contract with the US Navy to provide 24 examples of the MH-60R helicopter to the Indian navy for anti-submarine warfare.

www.flightglobal.com

 

[lcafanboy]

IndianNavy will get 24 MH-60R , but according to sources at this moment , the contract is given to supply 3 platforms to #USNavy and 21 for India . Total cost 904.8 mln USD.

Interesting to note that the
@USNavy
has agreed to transfer three brand new MH-60R straight from it's own arsenal to the
@IndianNavy
.
Says a lot about emerging commonality of assets between both forces !....

 

[abhay rajput]

Interesting to note that the
@USNavy
has agreed to transfer three brand new MH-60R straight from it's own arsenal to the
@IndianNavy
.
Says a lot about emerging commonality of assets between both forces !....

Don't read too much into it.. we will get watered down version.

 

[Bhurki]

IndianNavy will get 24 MH-60R , but according to sources at this moment , the contract is given to supply 3 platforms to #USNavy and 21 for India . Total cost 904.8 mln USD.

The cost for the entire FMS deal was $2.4B, while the cost for procurement from OEM is $905M, just goes to show how much expensive the accessories are when you buy piecemeal numbers.

 

[WolfPack86]

US Navy Rushes Its Sub-Hunting Helicopters To India, Eye On China
The Indian and US governments were in such a hurry to get sub-hunting US helicopters into the hands of the Indian navy that the Americans gave up some of their own helicopters to fill a rushed delivery early next year.

“This really was one of the higher priorities the [Indian] navy had, to get these aircraft delivered,” Tom Kane, director of Sikorsky’s Naval Helicopter Programs told reporters this morning. “I requested that the aircraft be made available on an accelerated basis. So I think there is an urgent need.”

The urgency stems from the decade-long process India has undergone to replace its aging fleet of British-made naval helicopters, as Chinese navy ships, underwater drones and so-called maritime militia civilian-flagged fishing boats spread further into the Indian Ocean.


With New Delhi in a hurry to begin getting the state-of-the-art helicopters into use, and the US government eager to pull India closer as a hedge against growing Chinese naval capabilities, the US Navy allowed Sikorsky to take three of its brand new MH-60R Sea Hawks and begin modifying them to Indian standards to deliver next spring. The Navy will receive new MH-60R’s in a few years to replace them. The remaining 21 helicopters will be delivered in 2023 and 2024.

Most of the changes being made to the aircraft are in the communications and data sharing realm, Kane said. “They want the ability to talk to their satellites obviously, so there’s an Indian indigenous SATCOM data link. Also,they can talk to their ships so there’s a link to that they’ve asked us to install, and there’s some other modifications like a floatation system, and other things that we’ll have to [change] from the standard US Navy configuration,” he added.

The MH-60R was born to be a sub hunter, however, and that mission will remain central to the Indian configuration. “They’ll come off the line as ASW [anti-submarine warfare] aircraft so they’ll have the active dipping sonar,” the AN/APS-153 radar “and things that you would normally see on a US Navy configuration,” Kane said.

The deal is the largest contract Sikorsky has signed with the Indian government. Unlike most other programs, it’s not subject to the “Make in India” effort launched by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The company did not sign an offset agreement with India on the project, “so we will put more indirect work over in India,” Kane said. The Indian defense industry will also likely be involved in any maintenance and retrofit efforts on the aircraft in the coming years.

Defencenews.in

 

[WolfPack86]

Indian Navy to soon get world's best submarine hunter helicopter
Preparations have begun for the Indian Navy to get infallible weapons to deal with the increasing interference of the Chinese Navy in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea.

The MH 60R, the Romeo Helicopter, purchased from the US is excellent in combating any submarine or warship.

Let us tell you, the submarine fleet is the weakest link of the Indian Navy and the deployment of Chinese submarine in the Indian Ocean is raising India's concern.


The decision to buy 24 Romeo helicopters at a cost of about 20000 crores was made during President Trump's visit to India in February.

A deal worth around Rs 7000 crore was signed on 15 February. The remaining price will be for the weapons and equipment used in the helicopter.

With the deal with Lockheed Martin, it has been agreed to give three Romeo helicopters designed for the US Navy to India. All three will be used for training Indian Navy pilots.

Romeo helicopters will start getting to the Indian Navy by next year. Let me tell you that the Indian Navy currently has a total of 16 submarines, including nuclear submarines.

Defencenews.in