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India will also receive one MH-60B/R Excess Defense Article (EDA)
        USN legacy aircraft.

        Weapons included as part of the Indian MH-60R are AGM-114
        Hellfire missiles, MK 54 torpedoes, M-240D and GAU-21 Crew
        Served guns.  Romeo’s can carry up to eight AGM-114N Hellfire                                              [ AIR SYSTEMS ]
        missile on two pylons. New weapons for India will be BAE Systems
        Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) and Kongsberg’s
        subsonic Naval Strike Missile (NSM).

        “BAE SYSTEMS’ APKWS PROGRAMME SUPPLIES                         ing capability and uses an advanced seeker
                                                                       for precise targeting in challenging conditions.
        PRECISION GUIDED ROCKETS TO ALL U.S. SERVICES  The NSM meets and exceeds the U.S. Navy’s
        AND FOREIGN MILITARY SALES CUSTOMERS                           over-the-horizon requirements for survivabil-
        THROUGH THE U.S. NAVY. BAE SYSTEMS IS SEEING                   ity against high-end threats, demonstrated
        STRONG INTERNATIONAL DEMAND FOR APWKS                          lethality, easy upgrades and long-range strike
                                                                       capability.
        ROCKETS, WITH MORE THAN TWO DOZEN LETTERS
        OF REQUEST,” BAE Systems Spokesperson.                         Delivering New Capability
                                                                       The Romeos are a vital addition to the Navy
                                                                       at a time when the Indian Ocean Region is
                                                                       witnessing increasing security threat due to
                                                                       proliferation of submarines. The helicopters
                                                                       are envisaged to operate from frontline ships
                                                                       and aircraft carriers providing them the critical
                                                                       attributes of flexibility of operation, enhanced
                                                                       surveillance and attacking capability. Indian
                                                                       MH-60Rs will be used for offensive and defen-
                                                                       sive roles including Anti-Submarine Warfare,
                                                                       Anti-Ship  Strike,  Low  Intensity  Maritime
                                                                       Operations, Search and Rescue, over the hori-
                                                                       zon Network Centric Operations and Electronic
                                                                       Warfare.

                                                                       MH-60R helicopters carry a three man crew
                                                                       comprising of a pilot, tactical coordinator and
                                                                       a sensor operator. The MH-60R can also carry
                                                                       25 active, passive or bathymetric buoys and
                                                                       can locate submarines using its Airborne Low
                                                                       Frequency Sonar (ALFS), while at the same
                                                                       time performing a radar sweep of the surface
                                                                       environment using the multimode radar and
                                                                       Electronic Surveillance Measures (ESM). The
                                                                       Romeo’s onboard systems are able to fuse the
                                                                       data received from its radar, acoustics and ESM
        The APKWS guidance kit transforms an unguided 2.75-inch (70    systems thanks to the sophisticated onboard
        mm) rocket into a precision-guided rocket providing rotary-wing   data fusion system, which takes data from the
        military aircraft with a low-cost surgical strike capability that can   subsystems and fuses them into one piece of
        engage targets at ranges between 1.5 to 5 km. Up to 38 rockets   information for the crew. The Romeo’s also
        can be carried in two launchers on an MH-60R and the APKWS     feature an Integrated Self Defence system,
        rockets are ideal for engagement of asymmetric surface targets   comprising of a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR),
        and Fast Inshore Attack Craft.                                 missile,  laser,  hostile  fire  warning;  Infrared
                                                                       Countermeasure (IRCM) and Counter Measure
        Kongsberg’s NSM is a long-range, fifth-generation precision strike  Dispensing System (CMDS).
        missile that has been selected as the U.S. Navy’s over-the-horizon
        weapon system for littoral combat ships and future frigates. The  Timely Addition
        NSM weighs 897 lbs, carries a 500-pound class warhead with  The  MH-60R  Seahawk  will  be  the  most
        a programmable fuze and has a range in excess of 100nm. The  advanced maritime helicopter operated by the
        stealthy missile flies at sea-skimming altitude, has terrain-follow-  Indian Navy and are a long overdue replace-


        30 | March/April 2020                                                      WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT
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