The Indian Navy has commissioned INAS 335, its second MH-60R helicopter squadron, at INS Hansa in Goa. The unit is now operational and is intended to support shipborne aviation missions, including anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, and search and rescue on the western seaboard.
The Ministry of Defence has signed five-year Letters of Offer and Acceptance with the U.S. for sustainment support of the Indian Navy’s MH-60R helicopters, covering spares, repairs, training and new in-country maintenance facilities.
The wing is built at the Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Limited (TLMAL) facility in Hyderabad, which is also the ‘single global source of C-130J empennage assemblies installed on all new Super Hercules aircraft’.
These Contractor Sea Trials will be conducted over the next few months and the Vikrant is expected to be commissioned in the first half of 2022. The navy says the ship’s performance, including hull, main propulsion, PGD and auxiliary equipment would be closely monitored during this maiden sailing.
India’s Supreme Court gives the army a month to offer women officers permanent commissions, Taiwan says the Dalai Lama is welcome to visit the island, Social media giants suspend cooperation with authorities in Hong Kong and the US clears arms sales worth USD 7.5 billion.
The Indian Navy has issued a Request For Information for a second batch of Multi-Role Helicopters, even with the existing tender process for 16 helicopters still under way. Unlike the earlier tender, the new RFI is also taking Life Cycle Cost into consideration as part of the assessment process.
