Merlinhawk Aerospace (MAPL) has inked a joint venture (JV) agreement with Italy-based Vega Composites to set up a manufacturing and design facility in the defence corridor in Tamil Nadu. The new entity named 'Merlinhawk Composites and Engineering' will make advanced composites material-based products.

The strategic JV intends at tapping the growing market of India while developing design expertise and transferring manufacturing knowhow to India. It seeks to target the growing demand for composites-based products in the aerospace, marine, land and railway sectors. Additionally, the company will be targeting the upcoming hydrogen storage and fuel cell markets.

The JV is expected to be the first such agreement signed between an Italian and Indian company. Further, the JV is also working on a broad scope of products which would be beneficial to various companies and industries in India and involved the transfer of technology, which would enhance the technical capabilities in the country.

Merlinhawk Composites by leveraging upon Vega Composites’ expertise will be able to offer cutting edge solutions in composites technologies for end-users in India and across the region.