In what comes as a major enhancement to the aviation capabilities of the Indian Navy, the second MH-60R helicopter squadron of the Navy—INAS 335 (Ospreys)—will be commissioned on Wednesday.
MH-60R Seahawk is a multi-role maritime helicopter developed by Sikorsky (now Lockheed Martin).
The advanced weapons, sensors and avionics suite make the helicopter a versatile and capable asset for the Navy, offering enhanced capabilities to address conventional as well as asymmetric threats, the Indian Navy officials said.
INAS 335 (Ospreys) will be commissioned at INS Hansa, Goa, in the presence of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi.
The commissioning will mark a pivotal moment in the Navy's continued efforts towards modernisation and capability enhancement, a Navy spokesperson said.
The defence ministry, in a statement, said the aircraft has been fully integrated with fleet operations and has proven its worth on numerous occasions.
"The Navy will receive a significant fillip in its integral aviation capabilities with the commissioning of the squadron," the statement from the defence ministry read.
The helicopter is designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), search and rescue (SAR), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and vertical replenishment (VERTREP).
During the commissioning of the first squadron, INAS 334, in March 2024, the defence ministry had said the MH-60R helicopter would enhance India’s blue-water capabilities, extending the operational reach of the Navy and supporting sustained naval operations across spectrums and over vast maritime domains.
"The Seahawk’s deployment in the IOR would strengthen the Indian Navy’s maritime presence, dissuading potential threats and ensuring a secure and safe environment in this strategically crucial region," the ministry had then said.
