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Indian navy receives its first two MH-60 helicopters

by Ed Adamczyk Washington DC (UPI) Jul 23, 2021 UPI
India's navy accepted its first two Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopters in a ceremony at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., the U.S. Navy announced.

Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian ambassador to the United States, formally received the Lockheed Martin-built helicopters in last week's ceremony, a July 23 statement from the U.S. Navy said.

The Indian Naval Fleet will obtain 24 MH-60s as part of a $3 billion military equipment deal signed in February 2020, which also includes six Boeing AH-64E Apache helicopters.

The agreement followed a $1.9 billion deal for an integrated air defense weapon system to India.

The MH-60 is naval helicopter designed to operate from frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers.

Based on the U.S. Army's UH-60 Black Hawk its most notable modifications are the folding main rotor and a hinged tail to reduce its footprint aboard ships.

The helicopters destined for use by India have "several India Unique Equipment and weapons," a statement by the Indian Navy said.

The statement added that "the first batch of Indian crew are presently undergoing training in the U.S.A."

"For the Indian Navy, it's really a proud moment," Indian Navy Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Adm. Ravneet Singh said at the ceremony.

"The induction of the MH-60 helicopter into the Indian Navy is a symbol of the ever-growing global strategic partnership of our two countries and reinforces the common ideologies of our great nations," Singh said.

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