 "Seahawks")
India is finally concluding a procurement deal for multi-role helicopters the Navy had publicly labelled as ‘most important’. Defence ministry sources confirm a contract will be signed in November with the Pentagon (US Department of Defense) for 24 Lockheed Martin MH-60R Seahawks for $2-2.6 billion.
These choppers, with foldable blades, will be stationed on naval warships for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, combat search and rescue, vertical replenishment, medical evacuation. Seahawks are also used for Special Forces’ commando missions.
For decades the Navy’s Sea King Mk 42B/C helicopters carried out these tasks. But with the Sea King being retired, helicopter hangars
