Nagpur: In a significant boost to India’s aviation manufacturing capabilities, French aerospace major Dassault Aviation has signed a historic agreement with Reliance Aerospace Ltd to manufacture Falcon 2000 jets in Nagpur. This marks the first time such aircraft will be produced outside France, and it is set to position Nagpur as a key global aerospace hub.

The agreement, signed during the Paris Air Show, was warmly welcomed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who called it a “milestone deal” for the country and a major step toward the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).

Fadnavis emphasized that this initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ mission and will give a substantial push to India’s defence and civil aviation manufacturing sectors. “This production unit at MIHAN (Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur) will not only boost India’s aerospace ecosystem but also create thousands of jobs for skilled engineers and technicians in the region,” Fadnavis said.

The Falcon 2000 aircraft will be completely built in Nagpur, and assembly lines for Falcon 8X and Falcon 6X models will also be established at the Dassault Reliance Aerospace Ltd (DRAL) facility, making it a Centre of Excellence. The first ‘Made-in-India’ Falcon jet is expected to roll out by 2028.

Established in 2017, DRAL has steadily advanced toward becoming a global manufacturing base. With this new agreement, India joins the ranks of countries like the USA, France, Canada, and Brazil in full-scale aircraft production.

Dassault Aviation, known globally for producing military jets like Rafale, and civil aircraft under the Falcon brand, has already delivered over 10,000 aircraft to 90 countries worldwide. The move is expected to solidify India’s position in the global aerospace supply chain and generate high-value employment opportunities in Nagpur.