Touted as the world's most advanced maritime helicopter, the MH-60R Seahawk is set to provide the Indian Navy its biggest rotary wing upgrade with the order for 24 of these multi-mission choppers, signed at a cost of $2.12 Billion during the visit of US President Donald Trump to India this week.

The range of missions this game changing platform can carry out include anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare operations, combat search and rescue, vertical replenishment, airborne mine counter-measures and command and control.

Advanced sensors and weapons are at the heart of its agenda for maritime dominance. Mk-54 light weight torpedoes, Hellfire Anti-Surface missiles, Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) and crew-served Weapons - .50 cal/7.62 mm Machine Guns - give it formidable firepower

The first six 'Romeos' are meant to be delivered to the Indian Navy within a year, and the remaining 18 within four years under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) route by Lockheed Martin. These will replace the Indian Navy's ageing Sea King fleet.

In operational service with the US Navy since 2009, these 'helicopters are part of its roadmap till at least 2040, which is an assurance of capability upgrades over the life of the platform.

Advanced sensors and weapons are at the heart of its agenda for maritime dominance. Mk-54 light weight torpedoes, Hellfire Anti-Surface missiles, Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) and crew-served Weapons - .50 cal/7.62 mm Machine Guns - give it formidable firepower.

Multi-mode Radar Electro-optical/Infra-red Sensors (EO/IR), Electronic Support Measures (ESM), Airborne Low Frequency Sonar (ALFS) Sonobuoys give this famed chopper the ability to track and lock targets.

A Link-16 Tactical Communications Data Link (TCDL) and Integrated Self-defence combine with its sensors suite for superior maritime capability. Its fully integrated mission system builds complete situational awareness and actionable knowledge, enabling target engagement both close-in and over-the-horizon.

Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky claim 98 per cent availability of the aircraft at less than $5,000 per flight hour, which is stated as the lowest life-cycle cost in its class.

Lockheed Martin-Sikorsky claim 98 per cent availability of the aircraft at less than $5,000 per flight hour, which is stated as the lowest life-cycle cost in its class.

It comes with proven record of performance. Over 300 MH-60R Seahawks are in operational service with the US, Danish, Australian and Saudi navies which have together accumulated more than 600,000 flying hours on this iconic helicopter.

The signing of the Letter of Offer and Acceptance - or contract - for 24 MH-60Rs on February 25 also puts it a head start in the forthcoming programme to build 123 naval multi-role helicopters in India.

It comes with proven record of performance. Over 300 MH-60R Seahawks are in operational service with the US, Danish, Australian and Saudi navies which have together accumulated more than 600,000 flying hours on this iconic helicopter.

Lockheed Martin and its subsidiary Sikorsky are delighted. "We are very pleased to learn that India is moving forward with the purchase of 24 MH-60R multi-mission helicopters. We stand behind the U.S. Navy and look forward to having the Indian Navy become the fourth international country, joining Australia, Denmark and Saudi Arabia, to operate the MH-60R Romeo, the most advanced maritime helicopter in the world.

"This platform will provide the Indian Navy with the capability to identify, engage, and defeat maritime security threats along with the ability to perform secondary missions including vertical replenishment and search and rescue," stated Dan Spoor, Vice President, Sikorsky Maritime and Mission Systems.