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Navy makes formal request for multi-role U.S. copters
Why is it in news?
- India made a formal request to the U.S. for the purchase of 24 MH-60R Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH) for the Navy in a deal estimated at $2bn.
- This is among a series of defence procurements and inductions from the U.S. and Russia in the last two months.
- The Navy is presently facing a critical shortage of helicopters and several frontline warships are plying with empty helicopter decks.
- These helicopters are being procured as replacement for 15 Sea King ASW helicopters de-inducted from service in 1991 and one Sea King 42B MRH lost in accident. The current MRHs in service, Sea King 42Bs, were inducted in the 1980s.
- In August, ahead of the inaugural India-US 2+2 dialogue, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) accorded the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the procurement.
- The LoR was signed and sent after the Navy received the pricing and availability details from the U.S.
- Now the U.S. will get back with the price quote, following which contract negotiations would begin to conclude the final deal. As the deal is through the FMS route, the process is expected to be completed in a short time-frame.
- Given the urgency for helicopters, the U.S. is likely to take some MH-60R helicopters off the flight deck of their newest aircraft carrier USS Gerald Ford. In July, the USS Gerald Ford went for year-long upgrades and fixes. All the helicopters would be delivered in a phased manner from 2020-24.
Source
The Hindu