Anil Ambani-led Reliance Infrastructure, is set to manufacture Falcon 2000 business jets in India under a new strategic collaboration with French aerospace firm Dassault Aviation. Announced at the Paris Air Show, this development marks the first time the final assembly of Falcon 2000 jets will take place outside France and is poised to significantly boost India’s position in the global aerospace manufacturing sector.
The jets will be assembled at a dedicated facility in Nagpur, Maharashtra, operated by Dassault Reliance Aerospace (DRAL), a joint venture between Dassault Aviation and Reliance Aerostructure. Once operational, this plant will elevate India into the select group of nations that produce business jets, a club currently comprising the US, France, Canada and Brazil.
This major announcement comes on the heels of another significant development involving Dassault Aviation in India. Earlier this month, Dassault entered into an agreement with Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) to manufacture complete fuselage assemblies for Rafale fighter jets in Hyderabad. In this case also, the Rafale fighter aircraft fuselages would be produced outside France for the first time.
In the case of the Reliance partnership, the Falcon 2000 is a popular twin-engine business jet known for its performance and efficiency, typically seating between eight to ten passengers. Dassault has delivered more than 2,700 Falcon jets globally as part of its 10,000-plus aircraft portfolio, spanning both military and civil aviation segments.
The DRAL joint venture began operations in 2017 with the inauguration of a modern manufacturing facility at Mihan, Nagpur. Since its first delivery of a Falcon 2000 front section in 2019, the facility has gone on to produce over 100 major sub-sections for the aircraft. This new phase will involve full-scale final assembly of Falcon 2000 jets, significantly expanding DRAL’s role in Dassault’s global supply chain.
According to the official announcement, this initiative is set to make India a strategic hub for high-end business jet production. The facility in Nagpur will eventually evolve into a centre of excellence for Falcon jet manufacturing, including future Falcon 6X and Falcon 8X programmes. This marks the first such centre for Dassault Aviation outside of France.
Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, highlighted the importance of this agreement, stating that it reaffirms the company’s long-standing commitment to the ‘Make in India’ initiative. “This new agreement, which will make DRAL the first centre of excellence for Falcon assembly outside France, illustrates our firm intent to contribute to India’s recognition as a major partner in the global aerospace supply chain,” he said.
Reliance Group chairman Anil D Ambani described the collaboration as a defining milestone for the company and a key step toward positioning India as a vital player in the international aerospace value chain. “The ‘Made in India‘ Falcon 2000 will be a proud emblem of the nation’s capabilities in advanced manufacturing,” Ambani said.
As part of the expanded role, DRAL will also handle the assembly of the front sections of the Falcon 8X and 6X, as well as the wings and entire fuselage of the Falcon 2000. This will be supported by major upgrades to the Nagpur facility, which is expected to produce the first fully assembled Falcon 2000 jet from India by 2028.
With Falcon business jets already popular in India’s corporate and charter aviation segments, the move is likely to meet both domestic and international demand. The Nagpur site is expected to recruit several hundred engineers and technicians in the coming years, reinforcing Dassault’s commitment to building a skilled aerospace workforce in India.