Indian Navy commissions second MH-60R helicopter squadron

December 25, 2025, by Fatima Bahtić

The Indian Navy has commissioned its second MH-60R helicopter squadron, INAS 335, the ‘Ospreys’, in Goa, as part of its continued efforts towards modernization and capability enhancements.

The event, which took place on December 17, 2025, follows the commissioning of the first MH-60R Naval Air Squadron in Kochi, Kerala, in March 2024.

Addressing the gathering, Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), said that the induction of the versatile, multi-role MH60R helicopter on the Western Seaboard, as the first operational squadron, was an important milestone for the navy.

He noted that the MH-60R helicopter has already proven its prowess across multiple missions during Operation Sindoor, TROPEX-25, and the recently concluded Tri-Services Exercise 2025.

These helicopters are expected to ‘significantly’ augment the Indian Navy’s integral aviation capabilities on the Western Seaboard.

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

The aircraft has been fully integrated with fleet operations and has proven its worth on numerous occasions.

India signed a deal for 24 MH-60R helicopters, with initial deliveries in 2021. The units are designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), search & rescue (SAR), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), and vertical replenishment (VERTREP).

The MH-60R helicopter would enhance India’s blue-water capabilities, extending the operational reach of the Navy and supporting sustained naval operations across spectrums and over vast maritime domains.