 Six Sea Kings in troop @-@ carrying capacity , designated Mk42C , were also procured in 1987 . Although the Indian Navy considered the AEW Sea King , expected to be designated as Mk42D , it was judged to be too expensive , consequently , in 2003 , the Russian Kamov Ka @-@ 31 was procured instead . The indigenous HAL Dhruv was the intended replacement for the Sea King in the ASW role , however , in 2000 , it was deemed unsuited , as the Indian Navy were dissatisfied with the design 's folding blade mechanism and by the Dhruv 's maintenance record . 
