The Indian Navy, on Wednesday, commissioned its second squadron of MH-60R (Romeo) anti-submarine helicopters—INAS 335 'Ospreys'—at INS Hansa naval base in the presence of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, marking a major step in strengthening shipborne aviation and frontline fleet capabilities.
MH-60R helicopters significantly enhance the Navy’s ability to undertake anti-submarine warfare (ASW), maritime strike, surveillance and search-and-rescue operations in the increasingly contested maritime environment of the Indian Ocean Region.
For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India
The MH-60R is equipped with advanced sensors, modern avionics and a potent weapons suite, enabling rapid detection, tracking and engagement of both surface and sub-surface threats. The platform significantly strengthens the Indian Navy’s Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and provides the fleet with a fast-response capability across a wide spectrum of missions.
The advanced weapons, sensors and avionics suite make the helicopter a versatile and capable asset for the Indian Navy, offering enhanced capabilities to address conventional as well as asymmetric threats, the defence ministry had said in an earlier statement.
The Navy chief said the induction of the versatile, multi-role MH60R helicopter on the Western Seaboard, as the first operational squadron, marks an important milestone for the Navy.
The squadron was commissioned with the ceremonial water cannon salute.
ALSO READ: Owning the story: India’s strategic communication playbook for modern conflicts
While the 335 Squadron is being formally commissioned today here at Goa, the MH-60R helicopter has already proven its might across multiple missions during Operation Sindoor, TROPEX-25, and the recently concluded Tri-Services Exercise 2025, the Navy chief said, adding, "I am, therefore, happy to note that the Squadron being commissioned today is fully operational state, ready to deploy with the fleet from day one, reflecting our deep commitment to expeditious capability induction and integration."
The Navy chief said strengthening maritime security was fundamental to safeguarding growing national maritime interests. "The maritime environment around us, today, is more complex and contested than ever before. Shifting geopolitics, fast-moving technologies, and an expanding spectrum of threats—from grey-zone activities to supply chain disruptions at sea—are shaping this new reality," he said.
Admiral Tripathi said the Indian Navy is progressing the acquisition of 15 MQ-9B SeaGuardian Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAs), which will significantly enhance India’s ability to maintain persistent maritime surveillance and comprehensive MDA across India's maritime areas of interest. "In addition to building its shore-based aviation capabilities, the Indian Navy has maintained an unwavering focus on the enhancement of the integral shipborne aviation capabilities," he said.
Admiral Tripathi said it is in this context that the recent signing of the contract for 26 Rafale-M carrier-borne aircraft assumes particular significance, strengthening the Indian Navy’s long-range maritime strike and land-attack capabilities, as well as fleet air defence. "Complementing the deck-based fighters, rotary-wing platforms, that include the shipborne uncrewed aviation systems, extend the fleet's ability to undertake persistent surface and air surveillance, standoff anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, logistics support, and search-and-rescue at sea," he said.