MH-60R Squadron Strengthens India’s Maritime Strike Arm
Panaji: The Indian Navy today commissioned INAS 335, known as “The Ospreys”, marking the induction of its second Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) equipped with MH-60R multi-role helicopters, in a ceremony held at INS Hansa in Goa. The commissioning significantly enhances the Navy’s integral aviation capabilities and underlines India’s defence cooperation with the United States.
The ceremony was presided over by Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, and followed the commissioning of the Navy’s first MH-60R squadron at Kochi, Kerala, in March 2024. Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, was present, along with other senior naval leaders, veterans and distinguished guests.
The Commissioning Warrant for the squadron was read out by Captain Dhirender Bisht, Commanding Officer of INAS 335, following which the Commissioning Plaque was unveiled by Laila Swaminathan, President of the Navy Wives Welfare Association, Western Region. The ceremony concluded with a traditional water cannon salute marking the squadron’s entry into active service.
The MH-60R is an all-weather, day-and-night capable helicopter designed to undertake a wide range of maritime missions, including Anti-Submarine Warfare, Anti-Surface Warfare, Search and Rescue, Medical Evacuation and Vertical Replenishment. The induction of the platform is expected to significantly strengthen the Indian Navy’s operational reach and responsiveness along the western seaboard, particularly in the Arabian Sea and adjoining areas of the Indian Ocean.
Equipped with advanced sensors, weapons and a modern avionics suite, the MH-60R represents a new generation of ship-borne maritime helicopters. In global terms, it occupies a distinct operational niche when compared with other helicopters in service with major navies. Unlike larger maritime platforms that prioritise troop transport or long-range lift, the MH-60R is optimised as a compact, highly networked combat helicopter designed to operate routinely from frigates, destroyers and aircraft carriers. Its integrated mission systems enable it to detect, track and engage submarines and surface targets with speed and precision, making it particularly effective in high-tempo naval operations.
By contrast, some European-origin helicopters emphasise greater internal space and multi-role flexibility, allowing them to perform transport and utility tasks alongside maritime combat roles, while larger medium-lift helicopters used by blue-water navies offer longer endurance and heavier payloads at the cost of reduced compatibility with smaller warships. Older designs still operated by several countries remain effective in challenging sea conditions but often rely on incremental upgrades to match the sensor and network-centric capabilities of newer platforms. Within this spectrum, the MH-60R’s strength lies in its mature, combat-proven design and its ability to deliver focused anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capability from a wide range of frontline ships.
For the Indian Navy, the MH-60R complements heavier and more transport-oriented helicopters already in service by filling a long-standing requirement for a dedicated, modern, ship-borne anti-submarine warfare platform. Naval officials said the aircraft has already been fully integrated with fleet operations and has demonstrated its operational value during deployments and exercises.
Strategically, the commissioning of INAS 335 also reflects the expansion of India–United States defence cooperation. The MH-60R helicopters have been acquired through the United States Government’s Foreign Military Sales framework, with Indian aircrew and maintenance personnel trained alongside their American counterparts. The platform’s induction enhances interoperability between the two navies, particularly during bilateral and multilateral maritime exercises, while strengthening India’s ability to maintain undersea domain awareness in a region of growing strategic competition.
With the commissioning of INAS 335, the Indian Navy gains a further boost to its maritime surveillance, deterrence and response posture. The squadron’s induction reinforces the Navy’s emphasis on layered aviation capability, combining endurance, lift and precision strike assets to meet evolving security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.
– global bihari bureau
