In May 1998 , the United States enacted sanctions upon India as a part of the international response to a series of nuclear weapons tests by India . , these sanctions effectively grounded India 's Sea Kings because India could not purchase any US-supplied spare parts for the fleet . Westland also complied with the sanctions by refusing to maintain any US-made components . A limited number of Sea Kings were kept operational by cannibalising other aircraft and the manufacture of some components by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ( HAL ) . In December 2000 , President Bill Clinton permitted a relaxation of the sanctions . In the late 2000s , HAL and AgustaWestland signed an agreement to jointly maintain and perform upgrades to India 's fleet of Sea Kings
a series of nuclear weapons tests by India
Pokhran-II
Westland Sea King