Explained: What Navy's Latest Submarine Hunting Helicopters Mean For China And Pakistan

The Indian Navy, on 6 March, commissioned its first squadron of MH-60R Seahawk multirole helicopters.

The commissioning ceremony was conducted at the navy base of INS Garuda in Kochi by Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar. Inducted into the Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 334 Seahawk, the squadron will be commanded by Captain M Abhishek Ram.

Ordered in 2020 from the United States major Sikorsky (which was acquired by Lockheed Martin) for $2.2 billion, these 24 multirole helicopters will replace ageing British Sea Kings Mk-42Bs which were inducted in the 1970s and HAL Chetak — a licensed-built version of the vintage (50s and 60s designed) French Aérospatiale Alouette III light utility helicopter.

These multirole helicopters give the Indian Navy a major leg up in its ability to detect and track hostile Pakistan and Chinese submarines, as well as, conduct anti-surface warfare (AsuW) operations. Moreover, they can undertake reconnaissance and surveillance, search and rescue (SAR), and humanitarian and disaster recovery (HADR).

Till now, six airframes have been delivered while the rest of the 24 MH-60Rs are expected to be delivered by the end of 2025.

The helicopters' APS-153(V) radar with its high-resolution inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) and synthetic aperture radar mode allows accurate detection of moving ships at night and in restricted visibility conditions, from long ranges.

The APS-153(V) radar can also detect and designate submarine periscopes, even in rough weather.

Apart from the radar, its AN/AQS-22 Airborne Low-Frequency Sonar gives it exceptional capabilities to detect any underwater vehicle, including submarines or autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) under varying environmental conditions and sea states.

It also comes armed with MK-54 lightweight torpedoes, which the Indian Navy operates from its American-origin Boeing P-8I Poseidon long-range ASW aircraft. Coupled with P-8Is extended on-station capabilities, the MH-60R will be able to track the movements of Chinese submarines as soon as they enter the Indian Ocean.

After the induction of MQ-9 Sea Guardian drones, which India is in talks with the US to acquire 31 airframes at a cost of close to $4 billion, these tracking capabilities will get a further boost.

Apart from the MK-54 torpedoes, the helicopter will be armed with AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided 70mm precision-guided rockets.

AGM-114 Hellfire missiles are also in service with the IAF AH-64 Apaches.

While the government-sanctioned only 24 MH-60Rs, the navy has plans to procure 123 helicopters of the same type apart from the 111 naval utility helicopters (NUH).