Navy to commission second MH-60R helicopter squadron on December 17

The Indian Navy will commission its second MH-60R helicopter squadron — INAS 335 (Ospreys) — on December 17, boosting its aviation capabilities, officials said on Sunday.

The advanced weapons, sensors and avionics suite make the helicopter a versatile and capable asset for the Navy, offering enhanced capabilities to address conventional as well as asymmetric threats, they said.

Accordingly, the Navy’s second MH-60R helicopter squadron — INAS 335 (Ospreys) — will be commissioned on December 17 at INS Hansa, Goa, in the presence of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, a Navy spokesman said.

The occasion will mark a “pivotal moment” in the Navy’s continued efforts towards modernisation and capability enhancement, he said.

The MH-60R helicopter has been fully integrated with fleet operations and has proven its worth on numerous occasions.

The Navy will receive a significant fillip in its integral aviation capabilities with the commissioning of the squadron, the official said.