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Merlinhawk Aerospace has partnered with Boeing Defence India to provide in-country maintenance and lifecycle support for advanced Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) systems used on Indian military platforms. The collaboration will be supported through Merlinhawk's L3Harris WESCAM Authorised Service Centre in Bengaluru, helping reduce dependence on overseas repairs. The partnership is expected to improve turnaround time, fleet availability and mission readiness while supporting the government's focus on strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing and sustainment capabilities under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
Merlinhawk Aerospace has entered into an agreement with Boeing India Defence Private Limited to provide in-country support for advanced Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) systems deployed on Indian military platforms. The partnership, announced earlier this week, is aimed at strengthening local maintenance capabilities for critical defence equipment while reducing dependence on overseas support.
Under the agreement, Bengaluru-based Merlinhawk Aerospace will use its L3Harris WESCAM Authorised Service Centre in Bengaluru to provide maintenance, repair, technical assistance and lifecycle support for EO/IR systems. The company said the arrangement is expected to strengthen domestic support capabilities, reduce turnaround time for repairs, improve operational availability and enhance mission readiness for Indian defence customers.
The collaboration is expected to support EO/IR systems installed on several military platforms, including the Indian Navy's P-8I maritime patrol aircraft. These systems play an important role in surveillance, reconnaissance, target identification and intelligence gathering during defence operations.
Commenting on the partnership, Nikhil Joshi, Managing Director of Boeing Defence India, said the Indian Navy's P-8I fleet remains a key asset for maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region. He stated that Boeing's partnership with Merlinhawk Aerospace to provide indigenous support for EO/IR system sustainment reflects the company's commitment to India's self-reliance goals and to strengthening the country's defence ecosystem. He added that local support capabilities would help deliver faster turnaround times, improve fleet availability and enhance mission readiness for the Indian Navy.
Karthik Ramineni, Chief Executive Officer of Merlinhawk Aerospace, said the partnership further strengthens the company's commitment to developing world-class sustainment capabilities for advanced airborne mission systems within India. He added that Merlinhawk's WESCAM Authorised Service Centre would help deliver faster service response, reduce equipment downtime and improve operational readiness for defence customers.
According to the company, the agreement marks an important step towards strengthening India's indigenous aerospace sustainment ecosystem by reducing reliance on overseas repair cycles and expanding lifecycle support capabilities within the country.
The company also said the partnership highlights the increasing role of Indian industry in supporting advanced aerospace technologies. It noted that expanding domestic maintenance infrastructure would contribute to better fleet availability, stronger mission readiness and support facilities that meet global standards.
Merlinhawk Aerospace added that its WESCAM Authorised Service Centre is equipped with certified technical personnel, specialised tooling, original equipment manufacturer (OEM)-approved processes, technical documentation and field support capabilities required to provide comprehensive in-country support for advanced airborne mission systems.
The agreement also aligns with India's broader push to increase indigenous defence production and maintenance capabilities under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. In recent years, the government has encouraged greater participation of private industry in defence manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services to reduce import dependence, build domestic technical expertise and improve long-term operational readiness across the armed forces.
Source PTI
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