Boeing Defence India and Bengaluru-based Merlinhawk Aerospace have signed a strategic agreement to provide in-country sustainment support for electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems deployed on Indian defence platforms, the companies announced on Tuesday. The collaboration is expected to reduce turnaround time, enhance local repair capability, and strengthen operational availability for defence customers.
According to Nikhil Joshi, managing director of Boeing Defence India, the partnership specifically targets the Indian Navy’s P-8I maritime patrol aircraft fleet. The P-8I is a cornerstone of India’s maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capability across the Indo-Pacific region.
The P-8I is the naval variant of Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon, a long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare platform in service with multiple global air forces. India operates a fleet of these aircraft from coastal air stations, equipped with advanced sensors including sophisticated EO/IR systems for target detection and tracking in maritime domains. These sensor suites are mission-critical for detecting submarines, surface vessels, and maritime threats across vast ocean areas.
The agreement marks a shift towards reducing India’s dependence on overseas repair cycles for advanced aerospace systems, aligning with the government’s Atmanirbharta initiative. Indigenous sustainment ecosystems reduce both operational downtime and lifecycle costs while building domestic technical expertise in advanced avionics and sensor systems.
Karthik Ramineni, CEO of Merlinhawk Aerospace, stated that the partnership reinforces the company’s commitment to building world-class in-country lifecycle support for advanced airborne mission systems. As defence platforms become increasingly technology-intensive, responsive local support has become mission-critical for maintaining fleet readiness and operational effectiveness.
This partnership reflects a broader trend in India’s defence procurement strategy: leveraging domestic private sector expertise alongside foreign original equipment manufacturers to build sustainable, long-term support ecosystems. Rather than relying solely on manufacturer support or overseas depots, India is developing hybrid models where Indian companies build technical capacity to handle routine and intermediate-level maintenance, with OEM support reserved for complex depot-level repairs.
EO/IR systems on maritime aircraft are essential for day/night target acquisition, particularly in detecting low-observable threats such as semi-submerged submarines or small surface contacts. Maintaining these systems in operational condition directly impacts the P-8I fleet’s deterrent value and surveillance capability, making indigenous sustainment support strategically important for the Indian Navy’s maritime domain awareness mission.