India has formalized a significant set of defense agreements with the United States, valued at roughly $894 million, aimed at strengthening the long-term maintenance and operational support of the Indian Navy’s MH60R helicopter fleet. The Ministry of Defence announced the development on Friday, marking another step forward in the deepening military partnership between the two countries.
The contracts cover a broad range of support services essential to ensuring the readiness and reliability of the multi-role MH60R helicopters, which play a key part in India’s maritime operations. These helicopters are used for surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and advanced naval missions, making sustained maintenance critical for naval preparedness.
According to the ministry’s statement, the agreements directly enhance India’s capacity to keep its fleet combat-ready through guaranteed access to technical support, critical components, system upgrades, and logistical assistance provided by US defense partners. The ministry emphasized that this collaboration not only ensures smooth functioning of the aircraft but also helps India strengthen its naval capabilities through structured long-term support.
The valuation of the contracts—approximately $893.81 million—was calculated using the exchange rate of 89.4490 rupees per dollar, as noted in the ministry’s announcement. This marks one of the sizeable maintenance-focused defense packages India has concluded with the United States in recent years, reflecting growing trust and interoperability between the two nations’ armed forces.
The MH60R helicopter fleet, acquired under previous Indo-US defense agreements, is a key component of India’s naval modernization strategy. By securing comprehensive support arrangements, India aims to ensure uninterrupted operational functionality and enhance maritime security at a time when regional naval activity continues to rise.
The ministry underscored that such collaborations strengthen not just equipment performance but also long-term strategic cooperation between India and the US, reinforcing defense ties that have expanded steadily through technology transfers, joint exercises, and major platform acquisitions.
