Flight of the Falcon

Dassault and Reliance will manufacture the Falcon 2000 LXS business jet in India, but its long-term viability is not clear.

- ATUL CHANDRA

In what is a major milestone towards the manufacture of commercial and general aviation aircraft in India, this June, Reliance Aerostructure Limited (RAL), a Dassault Aviation and Reliance Infrastructure Ltd subsidiary, executed an agreement for the manufacture of Falcon 2000 LXS Business Executive Jets in India for the Global Market. Dassault Aviation has committed that the first 'Made in India' Falcon 2000 will take to the air in 2028. Dassault Aviation and Reliance Infrastructure will set up the first-ever Assembly Line for Falcon Business Executive Jets outside France to be set up at Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL), India. DRAL will also become the first Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Falcon outside of France.

MARKET OPPORTUNITY

"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 Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO, Dassault Aviation, following the announcement. "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," he added.