File photo: A US Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter

NEW DELHI: The US has approved the $2.6 billion sale of 24 naval multi-role MH-60 'Romeo' helicopters, armed with Hellfire missiles, MK-54 torpedoes and precision-kill rockets for potent anti-submarine warfare capabilities, to India. The actual deal is expected to be inked by September, say sources.

TOI was the first to report last November that the NDA government had issued the "letter of request" to the US government for the mega acquisition of the heavy-duty helicopters manufactured by Sikorsky-Lockheed Martin, which are slated for delivery in the 2020-2024 time-frame.

The Navy is desperate to induct the MH-60Rs because its warships are virtually bereft of such helicopters at a time when Chinese nuclear and diesel-electric submarines are making regular forays into the Indian Ocean Region. The force has just about a dozen old Sea King and 10 Kamov-28 anti-submarine warfare helicopters operational as of now.

The Trump Administration notified the US Congress that it has approved the sale of 24 MH-60R multi-mission helicopters, which will "help strengthen the US-India strategic relationship and improve the security of a major defence partner, which continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia region".

"The proposed sale will provide India the capability to perform anti-surface and anti-submarine missions," said the US notification.

