India to buy helicopters from US for $2bn

India has sought 24 multi-role MH-60 'Romeo' anti-submarine helicopters from the US for its Navy at an estimated cost of $2 billion. The deal is likely to be finalised in a few months. US vice-president Mike Pence met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Singapore on the sidelines of a regional summit recently. India had sent a letter of request to the US for an “urgent requirement” of 24 multi-role helicopters - MH 60 Romeo Seahawk. In recent months, there has been acceleration in defence ties between the two countries, with the Trump administration opening up America's high-tech military hardware for India's defence needs. Bilateral defence relationship was on top of the agenda of Modi's meeting with Pence in Singapore. The meeting is likely to be followed by a summit-level bilateral between Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump in Argentina on the sidelines of the G-20 meeting on November 30 and December 1. Neither side has confirmed the meeting yet. Currently deployed with the US Navy, Lockheed Martin's MH-60R Seahawk helicopter is considered the world's most advanced maritime helicopter.