The United States has hailed a fresh boost to defence cooperation after India signed a major sustainment contract for the Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk fleet.

The Ministry of Defence has cleared a package worth about ₹ 7,995 crore, roughly $946 million, to support the 24 helicopters acquired from Lockheed Martin under a 2020 Foreign Military Sales deal.

The US State Department said in a post on X that the agreement would sharpen the Indian Navy’s maritime capabilities, strengthen interoperability with American and regional forces, and reinforce shared security interests across the Indo-Pacific.

India has so far inducted about 15 of the multi-role helicopters, which form the backbone of several navies worldwide.

The MH-60R, often called the Romeo, can undertake anti-submarine and anti-surface

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