India-US Romeo Helicopter Deal: US Allows India To Leverage 3 MH-60R Choppers From Navy's Inventory

To fast track the delivery, US Navy permitted Lockheed Martin to shift three MH-60Rs from the US Navy's inventory of undelivered MH-60R choppers to India.

Representational Image/ (Photo by ROMEO GACAD / AFP)

New Delhi: In a major development in India-US relations, the Donald Trump government has agreed to offer 24 anti-submarine MH-60R 'Romeo' helicopters to India. Of the 24, the US Navy has allowed to leverage three aircraft from their own fleet. According to the reports, the US based helicopter firm Lockheed Martin on Friday  received a contract worth $905 million to build 21 helicopters for the Indian Navy. As directed by the US government, the project will be monitored by the US Navy. To fast track the delivery, US Navy permitted Lockheed Martin to shift three MH-60Rs from the US Navy's inventory of undelivered MH-60R choppers to India. The agreement initially came into existence earlier this year when US President Donald Trump visited India in the month of February. The two countries had signed 24 multi-mission MH-60R helicopters for the Indian Navy under Foreign Military Sales. India inked this deal with America for 2.6 billion dollars (i.e. about 21 thousand crores). Now the US government (US Navy) has signed this agreement with the helicopter manufacturing company, Lockheed Martin. Also Watch: Know how America is tightening its grip around China These 'MH60 Romeo' helicopters designed by the American company Lockheed Martin are used for anti-submarine and anti-surface (ship) warfare. Apart from this, these Romeo helicopters would also allow special operations, search and rescue, utility, vertical replenishment, and command and control missions. The MH-60R helicopters will replace Indian Navy Sea King helicopters which are now years old. The choppers are expected to find and engage Chinese and Pakistani submarines and warships in the Indian Ocean region. With the extremely advanced technology, the American Romeo helicopters are equipped with helfire missiles, rockets and torpedoes and can destroy enemy submarines several hundred meters below sea level if needed.