The Indian Navy has received two MH-60R multi-role helicopters from the US in a boost to its combat capabilities. The Navy received the choppers from the US Navy in a ceremony held at a naval air station in San Diego on Friday.  MH-60R helicopters, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, is an all-weather helicopter designed to support multiple missions with state-of-the-art avionics and sensors.

"The ceremony marked the formal transfer of these helicopters from US Navy to Indian Navy, which were accepted by Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Indian Ambassador to the US," a spokesperson of the Indian Navy said.

India is buying 24 of these helicopters from the US government under the framework of foreign military sales under an expanding defense cooperation agreement. India has been named a Major Defense Partner of the US, a nomenclature earlier reserved for only its military allies. 

The helicopters would also be modified with several India-unique equipment and weapons, NDTV said quoting Navy officers. 

"The induction of these helicopters would further enhance the Indian Navy's three-dimensional capabilities," the spokesperson said."In order to exploit these potent helicopters, the first batch of Indian crew is presently undergoing training in the US," he said. (SAM)