Dassault Aviation and Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure are setting up a final assembly line in Nagpur to manufacture their popular Falcon 2000 business jets,as per the announcement on Wednesday.
In a statement, Dassault Aviation said that,
Dassault Aviation and Reliance Infrastructure Ltd subsidiary, Reliance Aerostructure Limited (RAL), today announced at Paris Air Show execution of an agreement to manufacture Falcon 2000 LXS Business Executive Jets in India for the Global Market.
The Joint Venture facility in Nagpur, that was set up in the year 2017 to meet the offset obligations under the Rafale fighter jet deal with India, has already been producing parts for fighters and business jets.
Dassault Aviation statement added further,
The joint venture between Dassault Aviation and Reliance Aerostructure – DRAL – was established in 2017. The operations commenced with the setting up of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Mihan, Nagpur, later that year. Since delivering its first Falcon 2000 front section in 2019, DRAL has assembled over 100 major subsections for the Falcon 2000, underscoring its world-class precision manufacturing capabilities and playing an integral role in Falcon global production program.
The latest announcement enhances collaboration between the two partners, and with it, India will become only the fifth country to produce business jets after the US, Canada, France, and Brazil.
Dassault Aviation makes different variants of Falcon jets with a flying range of 4,500 nautical miles to 6,450. It competes with other manufacturers like Bombardier, Embraer and Gulfstream in the business aircraft space.
While the the Falcon 2000 is among the most popular jet, it is developing a Falcon 10X version that is due to enter service in 2027.
At present, there are over 2,000 Falcon jets in service globally, and the pending order book is around 65 aircraft.
Reliance Aerostructures will construct two hangars in Nagpur. The facility will have a capacity to produce up to 24 aircraft per year.
Dassault Aviation and Reliance Infrastructure Ltd subsidiary, Reliance Aerostructure Limited (RAL), today announced at Paris Air Show execution of an agreement to manufacture Falcon 2000 LXS Business Executive Jets in India for the Global Market.
This is for the first time that Dassault Aviation will manufacture Falcon 2000 jets outside France, positioning India as a strategic global aviation hub.
It will be for the first time in the storied history of Dassault Aviation, that it will manufacture Falcon 2000 jets outside of France. Dassault will also transfer the assembly of the front section of Falcon 8X and Falcon 6X, in addition to the wings and complete fuselage assembly of the Falcon 2000 to DRAL.
This is an epic moment for India as it joins the elite club of countries manufacturing next-generation business jets after United States, France, Canada and Brazil.
In a joint announcement, the companies said the Nagpur facility will manufacture Falcon 2000 jets and will also become a centre of excellence for the Falcon series, including Falcon 6X and 8X aircraft.
For Dassault Aviation, DRAL will become Center of Excellence (CoE) for Falcon series, including Falcon 6X and Falcon 8X programs, the first such CoE outside France.
Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, said that the latest agreement demonstrates their firm intent to meet our ‘Make in India’ commitments and contribute to India’s recognition as a major partner in the global aerospace supply chain.
Eric Trappier of Dassault Aviation said:
“This new agreement, which will make DRAL the first centre of excellence for Falcon assembly outside France and which will eventually enable the establishment of a final assembly line for the Falcon 2000, illustrates, once again, our firm intent to meet our ‘Make in India’ commitments, and to contribute to the recognition of India as a major partner in the global aerospace supply chain.
It marks the ramp-up of DRAL, in line with the strategic vision shared with our partner Reliance, which led to its creation in 2017 and is a testament to our unwavering belief in our future in India and serving India.”
Anil D. Ambani, Founder Chairman, Reliance Group said:
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self Reliant India)’ and ‘Make in India for the World’. Our partnership with Dassault Aviation for manufacturing of Falcon Business Jets in India is a defining moment for the country, Aviation Industry and the Reliance Group. This will help position India as a key force in the global aerospace value chain.”
The transfer of full fuselage and wing assembly operations combined with major facility upgrades, will pave the way for the first flight of “Made in India” Falcon 2000 from DRAL Facility at MIHAN, Nagpur in the Western State of Maharashtra, India by 2028.
The partnership represents a significant step in advancing India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities, while strategically integrating into global aviation supply chain.
This landmark initiative will see India emerge as a strategic center for high-end business jet manufacturing, underscoring the nation’s growing prominence in the global aerospace ecosystem. The new final assembly line will cater to rising demand in India and other international markets.
DRAL (Dassault Aviation and Reliance Aerostructure) is expected to recruit several hundred engineers and technicians over the next decade to support its expanding operations.
As per the French company, this decision underscores Dassault Aviation’s deep commitment to strengthening India’s aerospace manufacturing ecosystem and advancing the nation’s emergence as a global center of excellence for high-precision aviation production.
