This ceremony marked another step in strengthening the United States-India defense partnership.  CNATTU NI Commanding Officer Cmdr. Kent Davis and Executive Officer Cmdr. Michael Feldhues accompanied CNATTU NI MH-60R India students and instructors during the ceremony.

CNATTU NI and the Indian Navy recently partnered to facilitate the first MH-60R Seahawk helicopter training courses between the two naval military branches. The courses the Indian Sailors will study are designed for aviation machinist mates, aviation ordnanceman, aviation structural mechanic, aviation electrician’s mate and aviation electronics technician rates within the U.S. Navy.  The courses have been tailored to meet requirements for aircraft and systems purchased by the Indian Navy.

The ceremony, hosted by Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 41, welcomed Indian Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu; Indian Navy’s Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ravneet Singh; Commander, Naval Air Forces/Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Vice Adm. Kenneth Whitesell; and Sikorsky representative/Owego Site general manager, Mr. A. Hamid Salim as the official party.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the DD-250s (Material Inspection and Receiving Report) and a ribbon-cutting event.