New Delhi, May 22: India is mulling over buying 24 multi-role helicopters for the Indian Navy. The deal would be worth $2 billion. The government would procure these helicopters through a direct government purchase from the United States.

The navy has a critical requirement of choppers to carry out important missions ranging from anti-submarine operations to fire support and early warning at sea. According to a report published in The Economic Times, the proposal under the foreign military sales route is to purchase 24 of the advanced MH 60 ‘Romeo’ choppers that can be deployed from warships and is being considered as the fastest way to add the capability to the Navy.

After nine years of negotiations, the attempt to purchase these choppers was stalled in 2016 after negotiations failed over a difference in pricing with US manufacturer Sikorsky. The request for information (RFI) was issued in August last year by the Navy to procure 123 naval multi-role helicopters (NMRH). However, nothing much progress has been made in this direction. The delay in acquiring 123 multi-role helicopters led to consider the US offer for a direct government sale of the Romeo.

The Economic Times quoted a spokesperson for Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the choppers as saying, “An FMS procurement of MH-60R would provide the Indian Navy with an expeditious avenue to obtain a proven, multi-mission maritime helicopter capability to the Indian Navy.”

The Indian navy is likely to replace the Sea King fleet with NMRH The Navy presently operates 11 Kamov-28 and 17 Sea King ASW helicopters, but only four Kamove-28 and around five Sea King ASW are in flying condition.

The MH-60R Seahawk helicopter is the world’s most advanced maritime helicopter. It is operational and deployed today with the U.S. Navy as the primary anti-submarine warfare anti-surface weapon system for Open Ocean and littoral zones. MH-60R is also capable naval helicopter to operate from frigates, destroyers, cruisers and aircraft carriers.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 22, 2018 04:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).