India has signed Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOAs) with the United States for sustainment support of its MH-60R helicopter fleet, valued at approximately Rs 7,995 crore, ensuring comprehensive maintenance and operational readiness for five years. This initiative, inked under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, will establish in-country repair capabilities, including periodic inspections and component servicing, significantly reducing dependency on U.S. facilities and enhancing the operational availability of these advanced helicopters, which are pivotal for India’s anti-submarine warfare strategy amid rising submarine threats in the Indian Ocean. The agreements also aim to foster indigenous development by involving Indian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in maintenance activities, aligning with the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. Additionally, the sustainment package enhances India’s underwater domain awareness and reinforces defense cooperation with the U.S., facilitating a strategic partnership that is essential for future naval operations, particularly as India prepares to integrate additional MH-60Rs into its fleet by late 2025.