Aerospace Diary

by  Neelam Mathews  -  August 30, 2018, 9:38 AM The Indian Navy has been approved to buy the MH-60R from Sikorsky to replace the dwindling fleet of Westland Sea Kings, the first of which entered service in 1971. Here a late 1980s-vintage Sea King Mk 42B is seen in June this year while visiting the U.S. Navy carrier Ronald Reagan. (photo: U.S. Navy) The Indian Ministry of Defence has finally granted approval to acquire 24 anti-submarine and anti-ship Multi-Role Helicopters (MRH) in answer to a decade-old "urgent" requirement. The news does not come a day too soon for the Indian Navy (IN). The proposal is to acquire Sikorsky MH-60Rs (“Romeos”) by a U.S. Foreign Military Sales channel. Earlier a  direct-sale of the similar Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk  had been approved in principle but foundered over drawn-out price negotiations. The acceptance of necessity (AON) for the MH-60R buy is valid for 18 months, which ordains that the order will have to be made...

Neelam Mathews Feb 12, 2013 The Acceptance of Necessity (AON), for Project 75-I  is due to expire for the second time (next month). However, there is hope on hand as the  Defense Acquisition Committee (DAC) meets tomorrow. The navy, we hear, is all set to issue a Request for Proposal for a new line of six submarines with AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) capability.  The new Project 75-I submarines are estimated at around $10 billion. At present, six new Scorpenes under Project 75 are being built for more than $5 billion (Rs 23,562 crore) by the state-run Mazagon Dock Ltd. (MDL) under licence from French DCNS .