India is going to sign a weapons deal with the United States soon to buy American weapons, including the Hellfire missiles and Mark 54 anti-submarine torpedoes, in a step towards strengthening their military hardware cooperation.
These weapons are going to be fitted on the 24 MH-60 helicopters that are going to be fully inducted into the Navy in the near future.
The proposal for buying the weapons package for the MH-60 Romeo choppers is being moved forward briskly and the deal is expected to be signed sooner. Speaking to India Today, top government officials informed that the deal would be inked under the Foreign Military Sales route.
The plan to induct the Hellfire missile missiles, which are precision-guided weapons, comes after they have been used by the American forces against high-value targets. The other major weapon includes the MK 54 lightweight torpedoes which are used by US surface ships, fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, and are their primary anti-submarine warfare weapon.
It is also already inducted into the Indian Navy’s P-8I anti-submarine warfare and surveillance planes. India and the US have signed an over-Rs 16,000 crore deal to buy 24 MH-60 Romeo helicopters from Lockheed Martin in 2020 under fast-track procedures in a government-to-government deal to hasten the process.
The 24 MH-60 Romeos would be equipped with multimode radars and night-vision devices as well as armed with missiles, torpedoes and other precision-guided weaponry. The MH-60s are going to replace Sea King choppers which will be on their way out of the force very soon.
The MH-69 helicopters can operate from frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers.