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, the companies announced at the Paris air show on Wednesday.
The JV facility in Nagpur, set up in 2017 to meet the offset obligations under the Rafale aircraft deal, has already been producing components and parts for fighters and business jets.
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 Falcon 2000 is its 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.
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.
Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, said the new agreement illustrates our 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.
“It marks the ramp-up of Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (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,” he said.
Anil Ambani, founder chairman, Reliance Group said this collaboration is a powerful expression of our commitment to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India for the World’ initiatives showcase India’s capability to build and deliver next-generation business jets for global markets.
DRAL is expected to recruit several hundred engineers and technicians over the next decade to support its expanding operations.
Dassault Aviation 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 Falcon 2000, to DRAL. The transfer of assembly operations combined with major facility upgrades will pave the way for the first flight of Falcon 2000 ‘Made in India’ from Indian soil by 2028, the companies said.
