In a notable milestone, the Indian Navy has successfully executed the landing of an MH60R helicopter on the homegrown aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.
This marks the maiden landing of such aircraft on INS Vikrant, significantly bolstering the Indian Navy's capabilities in anti-submarine warfare and fleet support.
This noteworthy accomplishment was shared by the Navy through a video showcasing the first-ever successful landing of the US-made MH60R helicopter.
The Navy highlighted this achievement as a major enhancement to their anti-submarine warfare and fleet capabilities.
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the MH-60 'Romeo' is widely recognized as the most advanced anti-submarine helicopter in the world.
It is slated to be deployed on various Navy warships, further emphasizing its significance and strategic value.
Under a bilateral agreement worth $905 million, India has placed an order for 24 helicopters, leading to the induction of two of them into the Indian Navy.
Designed to operate in all weather conditions, this versatile helicopter has been specifically tailored for a wide range of missions.
It is slated to replace the Navy's existing fleet of British-made Seaking helicopters, which have been an integral part of their helicopter fleet since 1971.
In a significant milestone earlier this month, the MH-60R helicopter successfully touched down on the indigenous destroyer INS Kolkata of the Navy for the very first time.
INS Kolkata, renowned for its formidable capabilities including surveillance, anti-shipping operations, and search and rescue missions, witnessed the arrival of this advanced aircraft.
In September of the previous year, the Indian Navy proudly welcomed the indigenous INS Vikrant into its fleet. This colossal aircraft carrier, weighing 45,000 tonnes, was meticulously constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 20,000 crore.