The Indian Navy is set to significantly strengthen its rotary-wing aviation capabilities with the commissioning of its second MH-60R Seahawk helicopter squadron, INAS 335 (Ospreys), on December 17 at INS Hansa in Goa. Senior naval officials said the induction marks a major milestone in the Navy’s ongoing modernisation drive, aimed at enhancing maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and multi-mission operational readiness across the Indian Ocean Region.
The commissioning ceremony will be held in the presence of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, underlining the strategic importance the Navy attaches to the MH-60R programme. According to a Navy spokesperson, the event will represent a pivotal step in strengthening the force’s integral aviation arm at a time of evolving conventional and asymmetric maritime threats.
The MH-60R is regarded as one of the most advanced multi-role maritime helicopters in service globally. Equipped with a sophisticated suite of sensors, avionics, and weapons, the helicopter is designed to perform a wide range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), surveillance, search and rescue, and logistics support. Its advanced radar, electro-optical and infrared sensors, electronic support measures, and data-link systems enable seamless integration with frontline naval platforms.
Officials said the helicopter’s ability to operate from a variety of Indian Navy warships, including destroyers, frigates, and aircraft carriers, provides a significant operational advantage. The MH-60R can deploy torpedoes, air-to-surface missiles, and depth charges, giving the Navy a potent tool to detect, track, and neutralise underwater and surface threats far from the coastline.
INAS 335 (Ospreys) will be the Navy’s second squadron equipped with the MH-60R, following the successful operationalisation of the first squadron earlier. The aircraft have already been fully integrated into fleet operations and, according to officials, have proven their effectiveness during deployments and exercises. Their induction has helped address long-standing capability gaps created by the gradual phase-out of older helicopter fleets.
“The commissioning of this squadron will provide a substantial fillip to the Navy’s integral aviation capabilities,” a senior official said, noting that the helicopters enhance both peacetime maritime domain awareness and wartime combat potential. With increasing submarine activity and complex security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region, the ability to conduct sustained and networked airborne operations has become critical.
The MH-60R induction is part of a broader transformation of Indian naval aviation, which includes the introduction of new aircraft, helicopters, and unmanned systems. The Navy has consistently emphasised the importance of air power in extending the reach of surface combatants and enabling rapid response across vast maritime spaces.
Based at INS Hansa, the Navy’s premier naval air station, INAS 335 will play a key role in supporting Western Fleet operations while maintaining the flexibility to deploy assets across other theatres as required. Officials added that the squadron’s commissioning also reflects the Navy’s focus on improving training, maintenance, and sustainment frameworks to support advanced aviation platforms.
As India continues to expand its maritime footprint and safeguard critical sea lanes, the induction of the MH-60R Seahawk squadrons underscores the Navy’s intent to remain a technologically capable and operationally agile force. The commissioning of INAS 335 (Ospreys) is expected to further enhance the Navy’s ability to deter threats, protect national interests, and respond effectively to contingencies at sea.
