New Delhi: The upcoming 2+2 Indo-US dialogue between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar with their American counterparts may see the inking of a $2.6-billion deal with the US to procure 24 MH-60 ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopters and waiver from the Trump administration under CAATSA for the S-400 missile systems deal with Russia.
The 2+2 format talks will be held in Washington DC on December 18 between Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with their respective US counterparts Mike Pompeo and Mark T Esper.
India is geared to sign the chopper deal for the Indian Navy under which it will buy 24 units of US defence major Lockheed Martin’s anti-submarine MH-60 ‘Romeo’ Seahawk helicopters. Negotiations in the deal have been on for almost a decade now.
The purchase of these choppers — capable of hunting submarines, hitting at enemy ships and also conducting search and rescue operations at sea — is expected to boost the Navy’s anti-submarine warfare operations.
Singh will sign the deal on the sidelines of the 2+2 talks, which will be his first visit to Washington as India’s defence minister.
The chopper sale was approved by the Trump administration in April when it notified the deal to the US Congress. However, both sides were waiting for the finalisation of the 2+2 dates to sign the deal.
According to sources, India is in “urgent need” of these helicopters as it is facing an increasingly aggressive China in the Indian Ocean.
Earlier this month, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh said a Chinese vessel operating in Indian waters near Port Blair was forced to turn back in September.
