Dassault signs deal with Reliance Aerostructures to assemble Falcon 2000 in India
First assembly line of Falcons outside France
The joint venture between Dassault Aviation and Reliance Aerostructure - DRAL - was established in 2017 (Photo: Dassault)
Dassault Aviation and Reliance Aerostructure Limited (RAL) have announced an agreement to assemble Falcon 2000LXS business jets in India at the Paris Air Show.
The joint venture between Dassault Aviation and Reliance Aerostructure - DRAL - was established in 2017 (Photo: Dassault)
Dassault Aviation and Reliance Aerostructure Limited (RAL), a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, have announced an agreement to manufacture Falcon 2000 LXS Business Executive Jets in India for the global market at the Paris Airshow.
In a press statement, Dassault says that it is for the first time that the company will manufacture Falcon 2000 jets outside France, positioning India as a strategic global aviation hub.
“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,” says Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO, Dassault Aviation.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to Prime Minister 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,” says Anil D Ambani, Founder Chairman, Reliance Group.
According to the statement, 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 by 2028.
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, adds the statement.
