- 5 hours ago
In a major boost to India's maritime security, the Indian Navy has commissioned INAS 335 'Ospreys', its second squadron of MH-60R 'Romeo' multirole helicopters, at INS Hansa in Goa. Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, presided over the ceremony.
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00:00Hello and welcome to a special edition of the Battlecry, I'm Gaurav Savan.
00:21India is the only country in the world to have an ocean named after it and guarding our interests
00:26in the Indian Ocean region, where 95% of our trade by volume and over 70% by value passes
00:35through sea is of prime importance.
00:38And the Indian Navy now has a new weapon to protect and further India's interests in the
00:43Indian Ocean region.
00:44The Romeo of the Oceans, the MH-60R, the long-endurance multi-role helicopter capable of anti-submarine
00:53warfare, anti-surface operation.
00:55It's actually a multi-role helicopter.
00:58The Indian Navy has commissioned the first operational squadron of the MH-60R at INS Hansa in Goa.
01:05Of course, there's also a squadron, a training squadron that was commissioned earlier in 2024.
01:10The MH-60R is the most advanced weapons platform in its class.
01:15It's a battle-proven helicopter.
01:17It has long endurance, can fly by day and night and can fire the Hellfire missiles.
01:23India today's Manjit Singh Nagy was at INS Hansa and gets us this special report.
01:30The PM-60R quickly arrived.
01:58Helicopter MS-60R Helicopter is the most advanced helicopter present in Indian Navy.
02:27It is an all-weather aircraft which is capable of operating both by day and night from ashore and afloat.
02:33Its exceptional stability, long endurance and state-of-the-art weapon and sensors fitted in the aircraft
02:39makes it a potent platform for achieving any operational objective,
02:43whether it is anti-submarine warfare, surface surveillance or search and rescue.
02:47The diversity and the operational capabilities and the technology which is used in this aircraft
02:53provide Indian Navy the capability to achieve operational objectives in toughest conditions.
02:58The MS-60R Helicopter is fitted with advanced avionics, sensors and weapon systems.
03:04So in order to maintain these advanced systems, we require high maintenance standards and technical oversight.
03:09So as a technical team, we ensure that each and every system fitted on the aircraft is maintained at its high standard
03:18and it is available for all operational requirements when demanded by the Navy.
03:23Multi-role helicopters which are called flying frigates, because the name is multi-role,
03:32the name is anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, surveillance mission,
03:39and the need for search and rescue.
03:43So in order to operate the ship, the ship's combat readiness, the ship's combat readiness has been increased.
03:52So for us, it is a very happy thing that we have the 24 MS-60R Romeo's Induct,
03:58the contact we have signed with, that is our induction process is on.
04:03the
04:07ship
04:11the
04:13ship
04:15the
04:17world
04:19the
04:21ship
04:23the
04:25And here, Aynal Khansa, Goa, we have to talk about a fire missile in this area.
04:37Let's talk about the air fire missiles, then we have to talk about the air fire missiles in this area.
04:45We are the commander of this squadron, Captain Dhirendra Bist.
04:57We will know that this is another squadron and this is a multi-mission helicopter.
05:04What is the significance of this squadron?
05:08INF CZ-5 will function as the eyes, ears and first hunters of the fleet, providing real-time
05:14situational awareness, undersea warfare capability and rapid response across our vast maritime
05:19spaces.
05:26The commissioning of second squadron will significantly boost the Indian Navy's anti-submarine warfare
05:31capabilities, particularly in the Indian Ocean region, where Chinese naval activity has increased.
05:38The helicopter can defeat and track enemy submarines, making them a potent force multiplier for
05:44the Indian Navy.
05:46The MH-60 Romeo helicopters will be deployed on Ines Vikramaditya, Ines Vikrant and other naval
05:52vessels.
05:53With Governor President Karpal Singh, this is Manjit Negi, for India today, from Ines Hansa,
06:00Goa.
06:01So, the MH-60R helicopter's fully integrated mission system processes sensor data, builds
06:11a complete situational picture of what's happening on the surface of the ocean and also subsurface
06:17domain undersea.
06:19With actionable intelligence and picture, the crew can then track, target and engage whether
06:24it's ships or submarines effectively, efficiently and silently.
06:28Now, the weapons include the torpedoes, the air-to-ground missiles, the rockets and of course,
06:35cruise service guns.
06:36India today's Manjit Singh Negi spoke to the Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh Tripathi on
06:42the capabilities of the MH-60 Romeos.
06:45Look, the multi-role helicopters, which we call a flying frigate in the Navy, because this
06:57multi-role, the name of its name, can do anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, surveillance
07:05mission, surveillance mission, and if necessary, then we can rescue the search and rescue
07:10and operate the ship.
07:12And operating the ship's attack, the ship's attack, the combat readiness, the ship's attack
07:17has several reasons.
07:19So, for us, we are very happy that we have the 24 MS-60R Romeos index, which we have signed
07:25the contact we have signed.
07:26With that, our induction process is on.
07:30In March, we commissioned a squadron in Cochin, which was a training squadron.
07:36Obviously, first of all, there is a training squadron.
07:38There are pilots and maintainers who are able to learn the same way.
07:44So, when these helicopters are on the combat platforms, they are fully effective from day
07:50one.
07:51To talk more about the induction of the MH-60 Romeos, and of course, on the modernization
08:00of the Indian Navy.
08:02Joining me on this special broadcast are Vice Admiral Shekhar Sina, former Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief
08:10of the Western Naval Command, a flying pilot himself, was a naval aviator.
08:16Rear Admiral Philippos George Pinamuthal, who is former Flag Officer Naval Aviation.
08:21Sandeep Unnithan is a senior journalist joining us on this show.
08:25Gentlemen, welcome.
08:26Admiral Sina, what does the induction of the MH-60 Romeo mean for the capabilities of
08:31the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean region, sir?
08:35Thank you for getting me on your show, Gaurav.
08:38Always a pleasure with such a great panel that you have.
08:42You know, first thing is that these are integral part of a frigate or a destroyer at sea and
08:50the aircraft carrier.
08:51They are always carried on board.
08:54Unfortunately, the numbers of these anti-submarine helicopters and multi-role helicopters have declined
09:00over a period of time.
09:01We have not inducted.
09:02And it has taken this helicopter many years.
09:05I think the first paper we wrote was in 1995.
09:08And today we are in 2025.
09:10It is thanks to Prime Minister Modi's government that he expedited the signing of this, you know,
09:17the agreement and the contracts.
09:19Otherwise, we would have been quite delayed.
09:21Now, your question as to what, how does it…
09:24You know, as you heard the Archie from Naval Staff saying that it's a flying frigate.
09:30That's exactly what it is.
09:31Now, frigates cannot fly.
09:33The aircraft can fly and it can get away, get ahead of the ship many, many miles, hundreds
09:39of miles and do the very, very similar thing so that it can give you a warning of the incoming,
09:45you know, the threat, either a submarine threat or a surface threat.
09:49And if it is, if it is watering, then it can localize and it can prosecute the target as well.
09:56So in the Indian Ocean, it is certainly going to increase the area of our surveillance,
10:02the area to which we can sanitize ahead of the fleet, the main ships.
10:07When the main ships are, you know, going ahead with some, some kind of attack,
10:11these always act as the front screen.
10:13They are always the front screen many miles ahead of the ship.
10:16And they do the, what is called the, you know, the sanitization by throwing their sonoboys,
10:22looking in the radar.
10:23And once they have detected something, they can warn the ships, either for them to take
10:28a different route or if they are ordered, they will go and destroy.
10:32So I would say that their eyes and ears of our fleet, so much ahead, much ahead of where
10:38the fleet ships are.
10:39So it has really given you much more area of surveillance.
10:44And as we say that we will have a seek control and seek denial in an area of, let's say,
10:50200 miles or a hundred miles.
10:52This is the true platform which gives you that ability, Gaurav.
10:57So both seek control and seek denial.
11:00Admiral Philippos, the MH-60R helicopters are seen as a game changer.
11:04And especially with these Chinese ships and submarines increasingly lurking in our waters.
11:10So this induction and the speeding up of the induction delayed, you know, as it was for
11:16a very long time earlier.
11:18What message is India sending out?
11:23I think it's a huge capability, Philip, that it's given to the Navy.
11:31And it is the finest anti-submany platform in the world.
11:36So it is a fantastic signal to everyone concerned that we have a state-of-the-art helicopter
11:45second to none.
11:46And it's the same helicopter which the U.S. Navy uses and exploits.
11:52And there are several other countries like Australia and Singapore who use this aircraft.
11:57And our numbers are sizeable, 24.
11:59So this would be a game changer of sorts, undoubtedly.
12:03And in all, anti-surface, anti-submarine, as well as HADR and SAR plus anti-piracy as well.
12:12So in literally every role of the Navy, we could use the MH-60R as a platform of choice.
12:20And these flying frigates, Sandeep, there were some supply chain disruptions.
12:25There were some reports of manufacturing bottlenecks.
12:28But how much of a gap in anti-submarine warfare readiness that had been created
12:34is being addressed with this acquisition, Sandeep?
12:37Well, it's very critical, this acquisition, Gaurav.
12:40Because what has happened over the last couple of decades is that
12:43India had an anti-submarine warfare architecture that was primarily built around Soviet origin systems
12:50like the IL-38, the TU-142, the Kamov-28.
12:55Now what we are seeing in the last couple of years is that
12:57legacy Soviet systems are being replaced by an entirely new architecture,
13:02which is primarily American in origin.
13:04The P8I Poseidon is one.
13:06The MH-60R is another important aspect of that.
13:11And the Sea Guardian will be the third edge of that triangle which is being set up.
13:15It is, of course, imported.
13:17You know, but in future we will possibly have Atmanirbar variants.
13:21And this is something that Admiral Philippos would throw more light on.
13:25The fact that we now, after several years, have a completely new anti-submarine warfare architecture
13:32that's fit to tackle some of the most sophisticated submarines
13:35that China is putting out in the Indian Ocean region, Gaurav.
13:39Admiral Sinha, I want to take you back in history.
13:421998, when India carried out the Pokhran tests, the entire Sea King and Sea Harrier fleet
13:48was virtually grounded because U.S. sanctions came into play.
13:51Now, considering the risks of U.S. export controls, as they call it, or sanctions,
13:56are there concrete safeguards to prevent disruption in maintenance or in supplies or spares or upgrade for the MH-60R?
14:05You know, Gaurav, what we do when we buy a platform or equipment, ship or aircraft,
14:10we work out as to what should be the reserve pair that we should keep in our naval store depots.
14:19And that is worked out in a particular sort of formula.
14:23And I am sure that now, over a period of time, that formula has been revised.
14:27You know, considering that you can be subjected to these kind of sanctions that you talked about.
14:32So, I would say that while it will make an impact, how much impact it will make, it depends right now as to how much can the Navy,
14:39what is the Navy contracted, which I wouldn't know.
14:42Navy has contracted for how much of spare part as a reserve in the naval store depot.
14:48You know, for our day-to-day maintenance, for routine maintenance, there are many components which you have to change as per the time or as per the flying hours.
14:57You know, normally these are the two bases, calendar-based or hour-based.
15:01So, once those, you know, once those equipment inside reach that particular level,
15:06then you have to either replace it or you have to repair it.
15:09Now, those are the ones as to how much should we keep.
15:13But are you concerned about US sanctions?
15:16Are you concerned about, you know, the problems that we may face or have we been able to overcome that by-and-large?
15:22See, you cannot overcome 100%, Gaurav, because this equipment, you know,
15:27this machine belongs to them. We have got a contract with them.
15:31We have a contract of, you know, giving you maintenance and logistic support for a certain number of years.
15:37So, hopefully, they will not, you know, they will honor those.
15:41But it is possible that in case of sanctions, we may get hit.
15:45How much will get hit? We'll see how long is the sanction for.
15:48Sure.
15:49Sure.
15:50Admiral Philippos, as this MH-60R replaces the aging-seeking helicopter,
15:54sir, have there been reports of any integration challenges, performance shortfalls,
16:00given India's particular, you know, the tropical maritime flying conditions,
16:04any operational teething troubles during the 2024-25 inductions
16:08that could undermine the Navy's multirole capabilities, especially against the Chinese in our waters?
16:16No, the integration has been, I would say, pretty fast.
16:20So, in under a year, they are operating from about 13 different types of platforms.
16:25So, all the ships which are MH-60R capable, whether it's the Shivari class or the Delhi class
16:32or the Vishakhapatnam class, all have integrated the MH-60Rs.
16:38And, of course, the aircraft carrier as well.
16:40So, that's not an issue.
16:42And like Admiral Sina mentioned, the follow-on support package as well as the follow-on logistic support package
16:47has been signed recently for a sizable amount.
16:51So, if you look at the pros and cons, you very nicely brought out the fact
16:55that we shifted from the Russian platforms to the American platforms.
17:00So, in a nutshell, what happens is Russia has been friends throughout
17:05and supporters through the hard times in 1998 as well.
17:08But just to explain the difference in the two types of platforms.
17:13Now, if you see the Russian concept is these aircraft go back to Russia every two years
17:19after a particular calendar life as well as a flying-hours-based exploitation.
17:26And the aircraft goes all the way back to Russia and then it takes about six months to one year to come back.
17:31So, for example, the TU-142, which was the precursor to the Boeing, etc.
17:38So, in 30 years, the TU flew close, I'll give approximate figures obviously for obvious reasons,
17:45flew around 30,000 hours.
17:47The Boeing has crossed, 8 plus 4, P-8s have crossed more than 50,000 hours in less than eight years.
17:55So, the concept is you, the Western side is you pay a lot, but you are able to exploit the aircraft much better.
18:04And the Western concept is the airframe is built for that life of 25 years.
18:10In the Russian concept, it is the upfront cost is much less.
18:15The life-cycle cost is higher.
18:17Life-cycle cost is much higher.
18:19And in simple terms, what happens is the glaring difference.
18:22I'll just explain it with the MiG.
18:24A MiG-29K costs $35 million, while a Rafal costs a ballpark around $110 million.
18:29So, the point is the upfront cost is way, way less.
18:32But in the long run, like the Admiral mentioned, the life-cycle cost works out pretty high.
18:39And there are pros and cons of both sides, like I mentioned.
18:43Oh, absolutely.
18:44And that's so fascinating to learn and to understand.
18:47Sandeep, you know, following the April 2025 contract for the Rafal Marines,
18:52and since we are talking about fighter jets now, so 26 Rafal Marines, 4 INS Vikrant and our aircraft carriers.
19:00Now, is it a fun scrunch?
19:02Is that an issue in modernizing Indian Navy's air arm?
19:05Or are we looking at putting a little in the naval air arm when it comes to fighters,
19:09putting some in our Reapers, in the long-endurance drones, more in P-8Is?
19:14Is that how we are looking at it and perhaps give a life-cycle extension to the MiG-29Ks?
19:19Well, Gaurav, it's actually all of the factors that you mentioned.
19:23And it's also to support our own twin-engine deck-based fighters,
19:28the TEDBF, which HAL is to roll out by the next decade,
19:32which is, you know, the preferred choice for the Indian Navy for an Atmanirbar aircraft,
19:38which is our own twin-engine deck-based fighter.
19:41Now, if you buy a lot of Rafals, A, you'll run out of funds to support your other programs,
19:46and B, you won't have your own indigenous deck-based carrier aircraft.
19:51So, I think the government has been very careful,
19:53the Defense Ministry and the Navy have been careful in allocating funds
19:57to buy just enough aircraft to meet your immediate requirements.
20:00But in the long term, we have no option, Gaurav, but to buy our own,
20:04build and operate our own fighter aircraft.
20:07And that's what the TEDBF is all about, Gaurav.
20:11OK.
20:12Admiral Sanaa, the Atmanirbar Indian Naval Aviation Technology Roadmap of 2047,
20:19it envisions perhaps a fully indigenous 400 aircraft fleet.
20:24In your appreciation, sir, how realistic is that goal,
20:29given delays in what Sandeep was also referring to,
20:32the TEDBF, the twin-engine deck-based fighter jets,
20:35or the naval utility helicopters,
20:37and the continued dependence, sir, on foreign platforms,
20:41like the MH-60 Romeo or the Rafale Marines?
20:44You know, Gaurav, as far as the weapon platforms are concerned,
20:50if you take the entire armed forces,
20:52we have been sort of late and very slow in the aerospace platforms.
20:57We have not been making our own aircraft,
20:59whereas ships have been rolled out,
21:01aircraft carrier has been rolled out,
21:02and so has been many platforms for the Army.
21:06So, I would say that, you know, in this short timeframe,
21:09it is good to have a target.
21:11At least one can work towards it,
21:13but we do not know whether they will be able to achieve or not.
21:16Now, this Sandeep is quite right.
21:18If you buy too many of these Rafale,
21:22in that case, the money may not be sufficient to fund the aircraft carrier.
21:26But I will also put a word of caution here,
21:29that, you know, the aircraft carrier is our own indigenous.
21:34We don't have to pay it tomorrow.
21:36You have to pay it in a longer duration,
21:38and most of them are, you know, the public sector units.
21:41Whereas the Rafale or any of the foreign aircraft,
21:44you have to pay in a particular timeframe,
21:46otherwise there are penalties.
21:48So, that we have to keep it in mind.
21:50The numbers are really difficult to guess right now.
21:54But having all 400 Aatma Nirbhar, all indigenous,
21:57that's a very, very tall order.
21:59I don't think it can happen even for the Air Force,
22:01which is the sort of main stock holder of all the aerospace,
22:05you know, that we create.
22:07So, I would say that engine, we are still lot of distance away.
22:11As you know, the Safran will probably be the first one,
22:14or maybe the Rolls-Royce is going to build everything here
22:16and transfer the technology.
22:18That is yet to be signed.
22:20But only thing firm at the moment is Safran engine.
22:23And let's see when does the first one come out.
22:25Then it's integration with any one of the aircraft.
22:28Then it's integration with the…
22:30It's a very time consuming process.
22:32You know, test and trial, it takes very, very long time
22:35for any aircraft or helicopter.
22:37Helicopter technology, particularly the anti-submarine warfare technology
22:41is very unique.
22:42That is even more specialized than any other thing
22:45that you are talking about.
22:47And therefore, to have the sonoboys,
22:49we are going to make it now,
22:51but to have the technology transferred here
22:53and the sensing equipment,
22:56they are really top end of the technology
22:59which no country would like to part with it.
23:01So, I would say that, you know,
23:03the inside, the sensor part,
23:06is really, really, very tough to get your hand on.
23:09So, that might take…
23:10So, you think we are on track?
23:11I mean, our naval modernization,
23:13Admiral Philippos, Avion and even keel,
23:16naval aviation modernization,
23:18is it on track?
23:19Or are some delays worrisome in your appreciation?
23:24Hugely worrisome.
23:25I mean, these…
23:26The…
23:27Not to sound negative, but…
23:30Ted BF,
23:31by my estimate,
23:32there's no way it's going to fly before, say,
23:34minimum 12 years from now.
23:36And you were talking about the numbers.
23:38So, actually, now,
23:39when you are looking at two aircraft carriers itself,
23:41again, I'm giving generic numbers.
23:43I know the exact number,
23:44but I will not specify the number.
23:45We are getting 26,
23:46but the numbers required are actually double
23:49to cater for two.
23:50Because the MiGs, we had got 45 MiGs.
23:53Now, we're down to about 40.
23:54And to cater for Vikram Aditya and Vikrant itself,
23:57the numbers we need are double of what we are getting around.
24:01And these are, again, approximate figures.
24:02I will not get the exact figures.
24:04The exact figures.
24:05So, you need double of those.
24:06And now, with the third carrier coming in,
24:08obviously, the numbers would be way, way more.
24:11And our deck-based fighter would take a long time.
24:17So, one good step is that the 114,
24:21the Air Force is getting,
24:23and we hopefully get some technology transfer
24:26and start manufacturing those aircraft in India.
24:29That would go a long way in enhancing our capability.
24:33And the other prestigious project
24:36is the deck-based multi-role helicopter,
24:38which is extremely challenging.
24:40And suffice to say, if you see worldwide,
24:42in this 12-ton category, how many aircraft are there?
24:45There's the EC725.
24:46There is the MS-90.
24:47There's the MH-60.
24:48There's just three or four.
24:50So, to be fair to us also,
24:52I mean, worldwide, if there are four
24:53and we want to get into this big club,
24:55it is a huge challenge,
24:56and we should understand that it's a huge challenge.
24:58The weak area for the engines are the sensors.
25:00And for the current, you must have the best
25:02which the Navy is acquiring.
25:04The MH-60 Romeos, as the Navy says,
25:06is the best available.
25:08So, Sandeep, the P-8Is,
25:10if we were to talk about the long-range
25:12maritime reconnaissance aircraft,
25:14the MQ-9 drones,
25:16help us understand how they take this battle forward,
25:18because nobody is using them uniquely
25:21the way the Indian Armed Forces are.
25:24I mean, P-8Is, long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft,
25:27the Indian system used it even in Docklam over High Himalayas,
25:332017 and 2020, Sandeep.
25:35Absolutely, Gaurav.
25:36And, you know, what we see here is
25:39this triangle of anti-submarine warfare assets
25:42that are going to operate once the Sea Guardians,
25:44of course, come in.
25:45You will see Sea Guardians having that persistent overwatch
25:48over the Indian Ocean region.
25:50And you will have the MH-60s operating of warships,
25:54as the admirals on the show have just explained to us.
25:58And then you will also have the P-8Is.
26:01So, these three will operate in concert
26:04to hunt enemy submarines.
26:06And it is going to be something that is going to be very difficult
26:09for another hostile power to operate in the Indian Ocean region
26:14when you have the Indian Navy operating off the aircraft carrier
26:18that the Indian subcontinent is jutting into the Indian Ocean region.
26:21And from both coasts, from the eastern seaboard and the western seaboard,
26:25we have the ability to deploy all of these anti-submarine warfare assets over there
26:30and which have persistent overwatch.
26:32They are able to attack submarines, track them, hunt them,
26:36you know, track, detect, hunt,
26:38and then, you know, maintain contact with submarines
26:42the minute they are picked up,
26:43when they cross the choke points of the Malacca Straits
26:46and the Umbai Vatar and the other places.
26:48So, it is, you are looking at a very formidable anti-submarine warfare architecture
26:52that has been put into place, Gaurav,
26:54with these three assets coming in, in the numbers that we currently have.
26:57And as you correctly pointed out,
26:59the fact is that the Indian Navy has been using P-8Is over land.
27:02We have been using them in Doklam,
27:04we have been using them to look at Ladakh
27:07because they are very capable aircraft.
27:09And now, with the fact that we are getting many more of them,
27:12in the area that we have, the Indian Ocean region
27:15is going to be very, very difficult for Chinese, Pakistani submarines,
27:20any other country to operate without us knowing that,
27:23without us having the ability to detect them and, of course, hunt them.
27:26You know, this is the power.
27:28This is the Bharat Shakti that we are talking about.
27:32India's power in the Indian Ocean region
27:35that will ensure the stronger we are militarily and strategically,
27:40the stronger we would be economically.
27:43And what a lovely discussion I've had.
27:45Admiral Philippos, Admiral Sinha and Sandeep
27:48for joining me here on this Battlecry special broadcast.
27:52Many thanks.
27:53That is all I have for you on this special edition of Battlecry.
27:56Many thanks for watching.
27:58News and updates continue on India Today.
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