Dassault Aviation (DAB, Paris Le Bourget) will begin manufacturing Falcon 2000LXS business jets in India in a joint venture with Reliance Aerostructure Limited. It will be the first time the manufacturer has built the Falcon 2000 outside France.
Dassault expects to have its first Indian-manufactured 2000LXS in the air by 2028. The company will also transfer the assembly of the front section of its Falcon 8X and Falcon 6X aircraft, in addition to the wings and complete fuselage assembly of the Falcon 2000s, to the facility located in Nagpur in the state of Maharashtra. The jets will be available for business and military use and sold locally and overseas.
The JV, which dates back to 2017, is known as Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL). However, until now, DRAL has only assembled subsections for the Falcon 2000, not the entire aircraft.
Controlled by Indian billionaire Anil Ambani, Reliance Group is best known as the owner of Reliance Infrastructure Limited and Reliance Power Limited. Reliance Infrastructure is a Delhi-focused power-generating and distribution business, while Reliance Power is a major pan-Indian power company.
"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," said Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier.
India, the world's fifth-biggest economy by nominal GDP, is making a big effort to boost local manufacturing capabilities across multiple sectors. It often relies on joint ventures with foreign partners. Both parties say the Falcon agreement is a significant step in advancing India’s aerospace manufacturing capabilities.
According to ch-aviation Business Jet Operator & Airport Data, Dassault Aviation has built 706 Falcon 2000s, with 633 still in service.
