INDIA SEEKS SEAHAWK HELICOPTERS FROM US

India has sought 24 multi-role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ anti-submarine helicopters for the Navy from the US at an estimated cost of $2 billion,

defence industry sources said. India has been in need of these anti-submarine hunter helicopters for more than a decade now. The deal is expected to be finalised in a few months, sources told PTI, days after US Vice-President Mike Pence held a successful meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Singapore.

India has sought from the US 24 multi-role MH-60 ‘Romeo’ anti-submarine helicopters for its Navy at an estimated cost of $2 billion, defence industry sources here said on Friday.

India has been in need of these formidable anti-submarine hunter helicopters for more than a decade now.

The deal is expected to be finalised in a few months, informed sources told PTI, days after US Vice President Mike Pence held a successful meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Singapore on the sidelines of a regional summit. India has sent a letter of request to the US for an “urgent requirement” of 24 multi-role helicopters — MH 60 Romeo Seahawk, sources said. In recent months, there has been acceleration in defence ties between the two countries, with the Trump administration opening up America’s high-tech military hardware for India’s defence needs.

Bilateral defence relationship was on top of the agenda of the-Modi-Pence meeting in Singapore on Wednesday.

The meeting is likely to be followed by a summit-level bilateral between PM Modi and US President Donald Trump in Argentina.