Bengaluru-based Merlinhawk Aerospace and Boeing India Defence Private Limited have signed a strategic in-country agreement to provide sustainment support for advanced EO/IR systems on Indian defence platforms, including the Indian Navy’s P-8I. Merlinhawk will use its L3Harris WESCAM Authorized Service Centre in Bengaluru to deliver maintenance, repair, technical support and lifecycle sustainment, with the aim of reducing turnaround times and boosting fleet availability and mission readiness. The partnership underlines a push toward indigenous aerospace MRO capabilities and aligns with India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat objective by localizing critical defence sustainment and reducing reliance on overseas repair cycles. Industry officials describe these collaborations as part of a broader trend to strengthen India’s domestic defence ecosystem and speed response times for technology-intensive platforms. Executives from Boeing Defence India and Merlinhawk emphasised improved operational readiness and self-reliance as core benefits for the Indian Navy and other defence customers.