NEW DELHI: The US authorities has authorised a proposed sale to India of anti-submarine warfare (ASW) sonobuoys and associated gear value round $52.8 million (Rs 443 crore) for the multi-mission MH-60R Seahawk helicopters being inducted by the Indian Navy.
The Biden administration’s notification to the US Congress on Friday mentioned the proposed sale will assist Washington’s international coverage and nationwide safety aims by serving to to strengthen the bilateral strategic relationship and bettering the safety of a serious defence accomplice, India, which “continues to be an necessary power for political stability, peace, and financial progress within the Indo-Pacific and South Asia areas”.
The proposed sale will enhance India’s functionality “to fulfill present and future threats” by enhancing its capability to conduct ASW operations from its MH-60R helicopters, the notification mentioned.
The Navy in March this yr had commissioned its first squadron of six submarine-hunting MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, armed with Hellfire missiles, MK-54 torpedoes and precision-kill rockets, at INS Garuda in Kochi, as was then reported by TOI.
By subsequent yr, India is slated to induct 24 heavy-duty Seahawks, that are additionally geared up with multi-mode radars and night-vision units, underneath the Rs 15,157 crore ($2.13 billion) contract inked with the US in February 2020.
The notification mentioned the Indian authorities has requested to purchase AN/SSQ-53G high-altitude ASW sonobuoys, AN/SSQ-62F HAASW sonobuoys and AN/SSQ-36 sonobuoys in addition to engineering, technical and logistics assist. “The proposed sale of this gear and assist won’t alter the essential army stability within the area,” it mentioned.
Navy officers say the induction of Seahawks, which function from decks of plane carriers and different frontline warships, represents a “important functionality soar” in detecting and destroying enemy submarines prowling within the Indian Ocean Area (IOR).
The choppers may also be used for anti-ship strikes, over the horizon network-centric operations and digital warfare missions, search and rescue, medical evacuation and vertical replenishment.
“The superior weapons, sensors and avionics suite make the Seahawks perfect for our maritime safety wants, providing enhanced capabilities for each standard in addition to uneven threats. They may improve India’s blue-water capabilities, prolong the operational attain and assist sustained naval operations throughout spectrums,” an officer mentioned.
The brand new helicopters are essential as a result of the 140-warship Navy is at present grappling with only a handful of outdated ASW helicopters like Kamov-28s and Sea Kings, at a time when the presence of Chinese language nuclear and diesel-electric submarines is barely going to additional enhance within the IOR within the coming years.
ASW choppers sometimes fly forward of warships to “dunk” their sonobuoys into deep waters, “ping” for enemy submarines, after which hearth missiles, torpedoes and depth costs to clear the trail for the fleet throughout hostilities.
After the primary 24 MH-60Rs, the Navy has projected a long-term requirement for one more 123 naval multi-role helicopters (NMRHs). The MH-60Rs are a substitute for the older Sea King 42/42A helicopters that had been retired within the Nineteen Nineties. The case for the 24 choppers, by the way, started approach again in 2005.
The Biden administration’s notification to the US Congress on Friday mentioned the proposed sale will assist Washington’s international coverage and nationwide safety aims by serving to to strengthen the bilateral strategic relationship and bettering the safety of a serious defence accomplice, India, which “continues to be an necessary power for political stability, peace, and financial progress within the Indo-Pacific and South Asia areas”.
The proposed sale will enhance India’s functionality “to fulfill present and future threats” by enhancing its capability to conduct ASW operations from its MH-60R helicopters, the notification mentioned.
The Navy in March this yr had commissioned its first squadron of six submarine-hunting MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, armed with Hellfire missiles, MK-54 torpedoes and precision-kill rockets, at INS Garuda in Kochi, as was then reported by TOI.
By subsequent yr, India is slated to induct 24 heavy-duty Seahawks, that are additionally geared up with multi-mode radars and night-vision units, underneath the Rs 15,157 crore ($2.13 billion) contract inked with the US in February 2020.
The notification mentioned the Indian authorities has requested to purchase AN/SSQ-53G high-altitude ASW sonobuoys, AN/SSQ-62F HAASW sonobuoys and AN/SSQ-36 sonobuoys in addition to engineering, technical and logistics assist. “The proposed sale of this gear and assist won’t alter the essential army stability within the area,” it mentioned.
Navy officers say the induction of Seahawks, which function from decks of plane carriers and different frontline warships, represents a “important functionality soar” in detecting and destroying enemy submarines prowling within the Indian Ocean Area (IOR).
The choppers may also be used for anti-ship strikes, over the horizon network-centric operations and digital warfare missions, search and rescue, medical evacuation and vertical replenishment.
“The superior weapons, sensors and avionics suite make the Seahawks perfect for our maritime safety wants, providing enhanced capabilities for each standard in addition to uneven threats. They may improve India’s blue-water capabilities, prolong the operational attain and assist sustained naval operations throughout spectrums,” an officer mentioned.
The brand new helicopters are essential as a result of the 140-warship Navy is at present grappling with only a handful of outdated ASW helicopters like Kamov-28s and Sea Kings, at a time when the presence of Chinese language nuclear and diesel-electric submarines is barely going to additional enhance within the IOR within the coming years.
ASW choppers sometimes fly forward of warships to “dunk” their sonobuoys into deep waters, “ping” for enemy submarines, after which hearth missiles, torpedoes and depth costs to clear the trail for the fleet throughout hostilities.
After the primary 24 MH-60Rs, the Navy has projected a long-term requirement for one more 123 naval multi-role helicopters (NMRHs). The MH-60Rs are a substitute for the older Sea King 42/42A helicopters that had been retired within the Nineteen Nineties. The case for the 24 choppers, by the way, started approach again in 2005.
