Ministry of Defence signs Letters of Offer & Acceptance with the U.S. Government for five-year sustainment support of the Indian Navy’s MH-60R helicopters, in New Delhi on November 28, 2025. | Photo: SpokespersonMoD via ANI.
India on Friday (November 28, 2025) sealed a ₹7,995-crore deal with the U.S. as part of “follow on support” package for Indian Navy’s fleet of 24 Seahawk helicopters for five years.
The signing of the contract came amid strain in ties between the two countries after U.S. President Donald Trump slapped a whopping 50% tariffs on Indian goods in late August.
The Defence Ministry said it signed Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) with the U.S. for sustained support of the MH-60R helicopter fleet through follow-on support and supply for five years at an approximate value of ₹7,995 crore.
MH-60R, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, is an all-weather helicopter designed to support multiple missions with state of the art avionics and sensors.
The LOAs were inked under the foreign military sales programme of the U.S.
India had signed an agreement with the U.S. for procurement of 24 MH-60Rs in February 2020. The MH-60R Seahawk is a maritime variant of the Blackhawk helicopter.
The sustainment support is a comprehensive package which includes provisioning of spares, support equipment, product support, training and technical support, repair and replenishment of components, according to the Ministry.
It also provides for setting up of intermediate-level component repairs and periodic maintenance inspection facilities in India for the choppers.
“In-country development of these facilities will ensure capability build-up in the long run and reduced dependence on the U.S. government, thus aligning with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” the Ministry said.
“This would further lead to indigenous product and services development through MSMEs (Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) and other Indian firms,” it said in a statement.
The Defence Ministry said sustainment support would significantly enhance the operational availability and maintainability of the MH-60R helicopters, which also have anti-submarine warfare capability.
“In addition, the support would enable the operation of these helicopters from dispersed locations as well as ships, ensuring optimal performance during all their primary and secondary missions,” it said.
The first three MH-60R helicopters were delivered to India in 2021.
Published – November 29, 2025 01:30 am IST
