New Delhi: Indian Navy has received the first two of its MH-60R Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH) from the US Navy in a ceremony held at Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego on July 16. The ceremony marked the formal transfer of these helicopters from the US Navy to the Indian Navy, which were accepted by the Indian Ambassador to USA Taranjit Singh Sandhu. The ceremony also witnessed the exchange of helicopter documents between Commander Naval Air Forces of US Navy Vice Adm Kenneth Whitesell and Indian Navy's Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (DCNS) Vice Adm Ravneet Singh.

MH-60R helicopters manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, USA is an all-weather helicopter designed to support multiple missions with state of the art avionics/ sensors. 24 of these helicopters are being procured under Foreign Military Sales from the US Government. The helicopters would also be modified with several India Unique Equipment and weapons.

"The induction of these MRH would further enhance the Indian Navy's three-dimensional capabilities. In order to exploit these potent helicopters, the first batch of Indian crew is presently undergoing training in the USA," said the Ministry of Defence in an official statement. 

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