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NEW DELHI: India on Friday sealed a Rs 7,995 crore deal with the US as part of a “follow-on support” package for the Navy’s fleet of 24 Seahawk helicopters for five years. The signing of the contract comes amid a strain in ties after US President Donald Trump slapped 50% tariffs on Indian goods in late Aug. The defence ministry said it signed Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) with the US for sustainment support of the MH60R helicopter fleet . Manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, it is an all-weather helicopter designed to support multiple missions with state of the art avionics and sensors. The LOAs were inked under the foreign military sales programme of the US. India had signed an agreement with the US for procurement of 24-MH 60Rs in Feb 2020. The MH 60R Seahawk is a maritime variant of the Blackhawk helicopter. The sustainment support is a comprehensive package that includes provisioning of spares, support equipment, product support, training and technical support, and repair and replenishment of components, according to the defence ministry. It also provides for setting up of intermediate level component repairs and periodic maintenance inspection facilities in India for the choppers. “In-country development of these facilities will ensure capability build-up in the long run and reduced dependence on the US govt, thus aligning with the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’,” the ministry said. “This would further lead to indigenous product and services development through MSMEs & other Indian firms,” it said in a statement.
