Anil Ambani’s Reliance Infrastructure (Reliance Infra) is making a significant push into the global aerospace market, backed by a ₹10,000-crore investment and ambitious plans to produce India’s first commercial aircraft. This move signals a strategic shift for the company, aiming to establish India as a key player in the international aerospace value chain.
A cornerstone of this strategy is Reliance Infra's partnership with French aerospace giant Dassault Aviation. The two companies are collaborating to manufacture Falcon 2000 business jets in India, marking the first time Dassault has moved the final assembly of these aircraft outside of France. This initiative aligns with the Indian government's "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) campaigns.
The final assembly line will be established at Dassault Reliance Aerospace Limited (DRAL) in Nagpur, Maharashtra. DRAL, a joint venture formed in 2017, has already been delivering Falcon 2000 sub-sections from its Nagpur facility. The new assembly line will significantly scale up its capabilities and is expected to generate several hundred engineering and technical jobs over the next decade. Dassault also plans to upgrade the facility to support these advanced assembly lines. The first "Made in India" Falcon 2000 jet is slated to take flight by 2028, catering to both corporate and military clients. This development positions India among a select group of nations—including the United States, France, Canada, and Brazil—capable of manufacturing business jets for global markets.
In addition to the Falcon 2000, DRAL will evolve into a Center of Excellence for the Falcon series, including future assembly programs for the Falcon 6X and 8X variants. Dassault will 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.
Beyond manufacturing, Reliance Infra is also focusing on aircraft upgrades. The company is targeting a ₹5,000 crore market in defence aircraft upgrades over the next 7-10 years. Reliance Infra has already upgraded 55 Dornier-228 aircraft for the Indian Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard under a ₹350 crore contract led by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) in collaboration with US-based Genesys. This project made Reliance the first private Indian firm to execute complete military aircraft upgrades without original equipment manufacturer (OEM) support.
To further expand its presence in the defence sector, Reliance Defence, a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, has partnered with US-based Coastal Mechanics Inc (CMI) to develop a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) facility for military aircraft and equipment at the Mihan Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Nagpur. The collaboration is designed to capitalize on business opportunities, particularly in extending the operational lifespan of the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) aging fleet and estimates the potential market value of this venture at approximately ₹20,000 crore over the next decade. The proposed MRO facility will service a diverse range of platforms, including British-made Jaguars, Russian MiG-29s, legacy L-70 anti-aircraft guns, and Apache attack helicopters.
These strategic initiatives, bolstered by significant investments and key partnerships, underscore Reliance Infra's commitment to becoming a major player in the global aerospace industry and to supporting India's ambitions in defence and aerospace manufacturing.
