Dassault ties up with RInfra arm to make Falcon 2000 jets in India

Dassault partners Reliance to assemble Falcon jets in Nagpur, marking the first Falcon manufacturing base outside France; DRAL named global Centre of Excellence

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Dassault Aviation, a French manufacturer of military aircraft and business jets, has partnered with Reliance Aerostructure Limited (RAL), a subsidiary of Anil Ambani-promoted Reliance Infrastructure (RInfra), to manufacture Falcon 2000 business executive jets in India for the global markets.

 

The partnership was announced at the Paris Air Show on Wednesday. This is the first time Dassault Aviation will manufacture Falcon 2000 jets outside of France.

 

Dassault Reliance Aerospace (DRAL), a 51:49 joint venture between RAL and Dassault, will become the Centre of Excellence (CoE) for the Falcon series, including Falcon 6X and Falcon 8X assembly programmes for Dassault Aviation, the first such CoE outside France.

 

RAL established a partnership with Dassault DRAL in 2017. The operations commenced with the setting up of a manufacturing facility at Mihan, Nagpur, later that year. Since delivering its first Falcon 2000 front section in 2019, DRAL has assembled over 100 major sub-sections for the Falcon 2000.

 

“Our partnership with Dassault Aviation represents a landmark in Reliance Group’s journey, as we work together to firmly position India as a vital hub in the global aerospace value chain. 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’ initiative, showcasing India’s capability to build and deliver next-generation business jets for global markets,” Anil Ambani, founder-chairman, Reliance Group, said.

 

 

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, RInfra noted.

 

The final assembly line for Falcon 2000 jets will be established in Nagpur, Maharashtra, and the company already has enough land bank for the same, a company source said.

 

The facility in Nagpur will have a capacity of producing 24 Falcon 2000 jets per annum. Meanwhile, Dassault’s order backlog for Falcon jets is around 2,150 jets, according to a source.

 

“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,” Eric Trappier, chairman and CEO, Dassault Aviation, said.

 

Besides, with over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,700 Falcons) delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation designs, produces, and sells all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter to the Falcon family of business jets, military drones and space systems. In 2024, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of 6.2 billion euro.

 

RInfra has allotted 12.5 million fully paid-up equity shares of the company, aggregating ₹300 crore, to Risee Infinity, a promoter group entity, upon accelerated conversion of warrants.

 

The company made a preferential issue of 125.6 million warrants aggregating ₹3,014.40 crore in October 2024. A minimum upfront amount of 25 per cent was paid on the warrants and the balance 75 per cent was payable in 18 months.