India has signed a $946 million sustainment contract with the United States to maintain and support its fleet of 24 MH-60R Seahawk multi-role naval helicopters. The agreement enhances India’s maritime operational readiness and marks another step forward in strengthening defence ties between New Delhi and Washington as Indo-Pacific security challenges intensify.
Strategic Timing Ahead of Key Diplomacy
The announcement comes just days before the India–Russia Annual Summit, sending a strong signal of India’s balanced and multi-aligned defence cooperation strategy with major global powers. It underscores New Delhi’s push to maintain high vigilance across the Indian Ocean Region, where submarine activity and geostrategic competition continue to rise.
What the Sustainment Package Includes
The sustainment contract was executed under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme via Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs).
Key components of the 5-year package include:
- Spare parts and mission-critical components
- Ground support and specialised testing equipment
- Training for aircrew and maintenance personnel
- Technical assistance and logistics support
- Establishment of component-level repair and service centres within India
By enhancing domestic repair capabilities, the agreement significantly reduces maintenance turnaround time and lowers dependence on overseas facilities.
The MH-60R Seahawk, often described as a “flying frigate”, forms a frontline asset for:
- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
- Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW)
- Maritime surveillance & reconnaissance
- Search and rescue & humanitarian operations
- Carrier and destroyer-based deployments
High fleet availability enhances India’s ability to monitor critical sea lanes, protect naval assets and respond swiftly to maritime threats.
Exam Oriented Facts
- India signed a $946 million sustainment deal with the US for MH-60R helicopters
- Support period: Five years under the FMS framework
- Fleet: 24 MH-60R Seahawks
- Capabilities: ASW, surveillance, maritime security operations
- Agreement boosts Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence maintenance ecosystem
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