11/29/2025
New Delhi, Nov. 29: In what can be seen as another major defence contract with the US in recent weeks, India on Friday signed Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) for sustainment support of Indian Navy’s fleet of MH60R helicopters through Follow on Support and Follow on Supply Support for five years worth Rs 7,995 crore.
The Indian Navy has procured 24 of these helicopters, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, under foreign military sales from the US government at an estimated cost of USD 2.4 billion, while 15 choppers have been inducted so far. The deal was signed in 2020.
This comes days after the Defence Security Cooperation Agency, in two separate statements, said that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to India of Excalibur Projectiles and related equipment at an estimated cost of USD 47.1 million and of Javelin Missile System and related equipment at an estimated cost of USD 45.7 million.
According to the Defence Ministry, the LOAs were signed under the Foreign Military Sales programme of the US, in the presence of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.
It said that sustainment support is a comprehensive package which includes provisioning of spares, support equipment, product support, training and technical support, repair and replenishment of components and setting up of ‘Intermediate’ level component repairs and periodic maintenance inspection facilities in India.
It added that the in-country development of these facilities will ensure capability build-up in the long run and reduced dependence on the US government, thus aligning with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
“This would further lead to indigenous product and services development through MSMEs and other Indian firms,” it said, adding that the sustainment support would significantly enhance the operational availability and maintainability of the technologically advanced, all-weather capable MH60R helicopters, which also have anti-submarine warfare capability.-Agencies
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