The Indian Navy is set to commission its first squadron of the newly inducted submarine-hunting MH 60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter at INS Garuda in Kochi on March 6. A maritime variant of the Blackhawk helicopter,
MH 60R Seahawk is armed with Hellfire missiles, MK-54 torpedoes and precision-kill rockets.The helicopter is designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and vertical replenishment (VERTREP), the Navy stated.
The helicopters, equipped with strong encrypted communication links, will operate from frontline ships and aircraft carriers providing flexibility of operation, enhanced surveillance and attack capability to the Indian Navy.
The Indian government signed a deal with the USA in February 2020, to acquire 24 fourth-generation MH 60R helicopters, of which, six units (a whole squadron) are getting commissioned in Kochi on March 6.