US government approves sale of anti-submarine sonar buoys to India for ‘Hunter-Killer’ helicopters | News from India

NEW DELHI: The US government has approved a proposed sale of sonar buoys and related anti-submarine warfare (ASW) equipment to India worth around $52.8 million (Rs 443 crore) for the multi-purpose mission MH-60R Seahawk helicopter Recording by the Indian marine.
The Biden administration’s communication to the U.S. Congress on Friday said the planned sale would support Washington’s foreign policy and national security objectives by helping to strengthen bilateral strategic relations and improve the security of a key defense partner, India, which “continues to be a major force for political stability, peace and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.”
The planned sale will enhance India’s ability to “counter current and future threats” by creating the capability to conduct anti-submarine operations from its MH-60R helicopters, the statement said.
As TOI reported at the time, the Navy had inducted its first squadron of six MH-60R Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters armed with Hellfire missiles, MK-54 torpedoes and precision missiles at INS Garuda in Kochi in March this year.
By next year, India is expected to induct 24 high-performance Seahawks, also equipped with multi-mode radars and night vision devices, under the Rs 15,157 crore ($2.13 billion) contract signed with the United States in February 2020.
The statement said the Indian government has requested the purchase of AN/SSQ-53G high-altitude ASW sonar buoys, AN/SSQ-62F HAASW sonar buoys and AN/SSQ-36 sonar buoys, along with technical and logistical support. “The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region,” it said.
Navy officials say the introduction of the Seahawks, which operate from the decks of aircraft carriers and other frontline warships, represents a “significant leap in capability” in detecting and destroying enemy submarines circling the Indian Ocean (IOR).
The helicopters can also be used for anti-ship attacks, network-centric over-the-horizon operations and electronic warfare missions, search and rescue, medical evacuations and vertical supply missions.
“The advanced weapons, sensors and avionics systems make the Seahawks ideal for our maritime security requirements and provide enhanced capabilities against both conventional and asymmetric threats. They will enhance India’s high seas capabilities, extend operational reach and support sustainable naval operations across all domains,” an officer said.
The new helicopters are crucial as the navy, which consists of 140 warships, currently has to make do with only a handful of old anti-submarine helicopters such as Kamov-28 and Sea Kings, while the presence of Chinese nuclear and diesel-electric submarines in the Indian Ocean is only set to increase in the coming years.
Anti-submarine helicopters typically fly ahead of warships to “dive” their sonar buoys into deep waters, “ping” for enemy submarines, and then fire missiles, torpedoes, and depth charges to clear the way for the fleet in the event of hostilities.
After the first 24 MH-60Rs, the Navy forecasts a long-term need for an additional 123 naval multi-role helicopters (NMRHs). The MH-60Rs are a replacement for the older Sea King 42/42A helicopters that were retired in the 1990s. The need for the 24 helicopters actually began in 2005.