MH-60R helicopters
                                            
                                                - IAS NEXT, Lucknow
 
                                                - 11, Apr 2022
 
                                            
                                            
                                                                                            
                                                    
 
                                                
                                            
                                            
         
                                            
                                                                                        
                                     
                                            
                                                                                        
                                            
Referene News:-
The first batch of Indian Navy aircrew successfully completed its training on the MH-60R Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH) at the U.S. Naval Air Station, North Island in San Diego.
	- The first batch of three helicopters are expected to arrive in India by June.
 
Key takeaways
	- The crew would be responsible for inducting the versatile ‘Romeo’ into the Indian Navy.
 
	- This will be the first major induction of helicopters by the Navy in decades for deployment on ships.
	
		- The Navy is facing an acute shortage of helicopters on its frontline warships but procurement of new ones has been repeatedly delayed.
 
	
	 
	- The MH-60Rs are a replacement of the Sea King 42/42A helicopters already decommissioned in the 1990s.
 
	- They are envisaged to operate from the frontline ships and aircraft carriers providing them the critical attributes of flexibility of operation, enhanced surveillance and attacking capability.
 
	- The MH-60R helicopters will provide the Navy enhanced offensive role including anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship strike, specialised maritime operations as well as search and rescue operations.