Indian Navy to Induct Three New MH-60R Seahawks in July

The Indian Navy is poised to induct three new MH-60R Seahawk multi-role helicopters in July out of the 24 helicopters it ordered in a $2.6 billion deal in 2020 to replace its obsolete Sea King Mk42B fleet.

The arrival of the new helicopters, announced by the U.S. Embassy on 17 July, ensures that the Indian Navy has received 23 out of the 24 helicopters it ordered from Lockheed Martin back in 2020. The final helicopter will arrive later this year.

“Another MH-60R Seahawk naval helicopter touched down on Indian shores!” The embassy posted on X.  “Developed by Lockheed Martin, this highly equipped helicopter was delivered to the Indian Navy at Kochi last week, with two more arriving this week. Thrilled to see the U.S.-India defense partnership growing stronger.”

The news comes not long after the Navy retired the last of its Westland Sea King Mk42 B multi-role helicopters which served as its primary maritime interdiction and surveillance choppers for over 40 years. The Sea King Mk42 B helicopters, attached to the Indian Naval Air Squadron 330, nicknamed “Harpoons” and based in INS Shikra, Mumbai, served aboard prominent aircraft carriers, destroyers and frigates.

About half a dozen Sea Kings still operate out of Naval Air Squadron INAS 350 based at INS Dega in Visakhapatnam, primarily conducting transport, search and rescue and ancillary operations.

The New MH-60R Seahawk helicopters have been placed with two naval air squadrons - INAS 334 (Seahawks) based at INS Garuda in Kochi and INAS 335 (Ospreys) based at INS Hansa in Goa.

The Seahawk is among the most powerful multi-role naval helicopters in the world, specialising in anti-submarine and anti-surface surveillance, interdiction and targeting operations. Inducted by the U.S. Navy in 2006, it can fire Hellfire missiles and Mk-54 air-launched torpedoes to target enemy combatants at or below the sea surface.

The 24 Seahawks of the Indian Navy will operate alongside a fleet of 24 Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters which primarily handle search and rescue, surveillance and coastal security duties. To ensure their round-the-clock availability and optimal utilisation, the government of India signed a $946 million sustainment and support deal with the United States in November 2025.    

The contract ensures that the 24 MH-60Rs with the Indian Navy will receive uninterrupted supply of spare parts, support equipment, technical assistance, training and component repair and replenishment for a period of five years.