Components for legacy Dassault Falcon 2000s will be made in India starting in the first quarter of next year, when a Dassault Aviation (Stand A26-A28) and Reliance Aerospace joint-venture facility opens in Nagpur. On October 27, Dassault chairman Eric Trappier and Reliance Group chairman Anil Ambani laid the foundation stone for the Dassault Reliance Aerospace manufacturing facility at the Dhirubhai Ambani Technology Park, which sits adjacent to Nagpur International Airport.

Under the joint-venture—in which India-based Reliance holds a 51 percent majority share—the facility will manufacture several components of the offset obligation connected to India’s purchase of 36 Rafale fighters from France, a deal that was signed in September 2016. Dassault’s foreign direct investment (FDI) of more than €100 million ($116 million) is the largest such defense FDI in one location in India, the companies said.

After the facility gains expertise in manufacturing unspecified components for legacy Falcon 2000 business jets, it could possibly expand capabilities to include final assembly of Rafale fighters and Falcon business jets, Dassault said. The French aircraft manufacturer did not specify which Falcon models might be assembled in India, nor did it provide a timeline for when this might occur.

According to Dassault, the new facility will train "thousands" of skilled workers in aviation assembly and integration and lead to "huge employment generation" in Nagpur and its surrounding areas. "It will also attract and house an organic ecosystem of over 200 [small and medium sized businesses] to secure the component and avionics manufacturing needs of Rafales and Falcons," the company said.

Trappier added that the foundation stone laying ceremony demonstrates Dassault’s firm commitment to implementing Prime Minister Modi’s “Make in India” program. "It gives the 65-year-long strong association of Dassault Aviation in India a new momentum and the will of future manufacturing developments,” the Dassault leader said.