Navy Chief Says MH-60R Helicopters Proved Their Mettle in Op Sindoor, as India Boosts Surveillance with Indigenous Aircraft

The Indian Navy’s MH-60R Seahawk helicopters performed as intended during the ongoing Operation Sindoor, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi said on Wednesday (December 17, 2025), underscoring the platform’s growing operational relevance even as the Navy commissioned its second MH-60R squadron and outlined major plans to expand maritime surveillance with indigenous and advanced aircraft.

Speaking after the commissioning of INAS 335 ‘Ospreys’ at INS Hansa in Goa, Admiral Tripathi said the MH-60R helicopters were deployed during Operation Sindoor and carried out their designated roles.

What did Admiral Tripathi say about Operation Sindoor?

“Operation Sindoor is still on. Therefore, any operational details about the performance of platforms are not in order. Suffice it to say that they were embarked on our units and they did what they were supposed to do,” he said.

Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, followed by a brief but intense military confrontation with Pakistan from May 7 to May 10.

While operational specifics remain classified, the Navy chief’s remarks mark the first official acknowledgment of the MH-60R’s deployment during the operation.

What is the Osprey squadron of the Indian Navy?

The commissioning of INAS 335 ‘Ospreys’ represents a key milestone for Indian Naval Aviation. The squadron is the first operational unit of the MH-60R fleet, following the commissioning of a training squadron in Kochi in March 2024.

Admiral Tripathi said the new squadron would significantly enhance the combat readiness of surface combatants deployed at sea, particularly by strengthening anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and maritime domain awareness.

How will the squadron act as a deterrent?

“This squadron will add great value to our surface platforms at sea. It will also act as a deterrent to adversary surface and subsurface platforms,” the Navy chief said, describing the MH-60R as a “very potent, well-proven platform.”

He also welcomed the recently signed contract with the United States for the induction of 24 additional MH-60R helicopters.

What are the MH-60R helicopters?

Designed for all-weather, day-and-night operations, the MH-60R is capable of ASW, ASuW, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and vertical replenishment, and is expected to substantially boost the Indian Navy’s integral aviation capability, particularly on the Western Seaboard.

Beyond rotary-wing induction, the Navy is moving to significantly expand its surveillance and reconnaissance architecture.

How will the Indian Navy upgrade its capabilities?

Admiral Tripathi said India is acquiring 31 MQ-9 drones, including 15 for the Navy, with induction expected over the next three to four years.

In parallel, the Navy has teamed up with the Coast Guard to induct indigenous C-295-based maritime reconnaissance aircraft — 15 for the Navy and nine for the Coast Guard.

The Navy is also considering acquiring six additional P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft to meet its total projected requirement of 27.

What are the present maritime challenges for the Indian Navy?

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Admiral Tripathi highlighted the increasingly complex maritime security environment marked by shifting geopolitics, grey-zone threats, and supply chain vulnerabilities at sea.

Strengthening maritime deterrence, he said, is central to safeguarding India’s sea lines of communication and national maritime interests as the country moves towards its goal of becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

How are these developments historically significant?

The occasion also carried historical resonance. The year 2025 marks 75 years since the approval of India’s Fleet Air Arm, while December 17–18 commemorates the anniversary of Operation Vijay in 1961, when the Indian Navy played a decisive role in the liberation of Goa. “Naval Aviation then, as now, provided a decisive edge at sea,” the Navy chief noted.

Senior naval commanders, including Western Naval Command chief Vice Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, were present at the ceremony, which concluded with a ceremonial water cannon salute and a march past by the newly commissioned “flying destroyers” of INAS 335.