Mumbai, July 11 -- Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Ltd plans to invest Rs.10,000 crore in the aerospace business over the next decade, even as it prepares for India's first locally made commercial aircraft to take to the skies in about three years. Reliance Defence houses the aviation and munitions business of Reliance Infrastructure Ltd, a listed company. Part of its investment would be funded by Reliance Infra raising capital through preferential placement of shares, sale of shares to institutional buyers and placement of foreign currency bonds-adding up to Rs.17,600 crore. Reliance Infra also hopes to monetize nine road projects in its overall portfolio, said Rajesh Dhingra, managing director and chief executive of Reliance Defence, in an exclusive interview with Mint. "That's the kind of road map we have ahead of us to be a global player. So five years from today, I think we would be in a position where we would be an integral part of the global aerospace domain," said Dhingra. He also said a "Made in India" Falcon 2000 business jet is expected to fly by 2028. Reliance Aerostructure Ltd, a unit of Reliance Defence, is assembling French firm Dassault Aviation SA's Falcon 2000 series jets in Nagpur as part of a 51:49 joint venture (JV) called Dassault Reliance Aerospace Ltd (DRAL). The jets will be the first Dassault aircraft to be made outside of France. "Dassault's approval for making its aircraft in India is a recognition of the capabilities and contribution of Reliance Defence," said Dhingra. "It will also mark a proud moment for India as it will be among the few countries in the world to have the capabilities to manufacture a commercial aircraft." The aircraft will be put together from two new hangars that are being built, said Dhingra. This will double DRAL's manufacturing footprint to 400,000 sq.ft and allow it to assemble 22 aircraft every year. Currently, the company is working on the most difficult sub-assembly of the aircraft -the wheels-in addition to several other large and small components it assembles for both Falcon 2000 commercial jets and Dassault Rafale fighter jets. Reliance Group's increasing focus on the aerospace business coincides with Anil Ambani-led firms finding favour with investors. Reliance Infrastructure shares have surged nearly 87% over the past 12 months. The firm swung to a consolidated profit after tax of Rs.9,177 crore in FY25 from a loss of Rs.1,609 crore in FY24, although this was aided by a one-time exceptional income. It has also significantly reduced debt, giving it leeway to invest in new businesses such as defence and aviation. Reliance Infrastructure's association with Dassault began in 2017 after the Indian government placed an order to buy Rafale fighter jets for the Indian Air Force. Dassault was expected to localize some of its manufacturing operation in India as part of the deal, resulting in the JV with Reliance Aerostructure. Another JV, Thales Reliance Defence Systems, with French avionics firm Thales SA, was also formed to make more aerospace parts in India. Thales holds a 51% stake in the venture. Reliance Defence sees itself eventually becoming a systems integrator in the aviation business on the lines of US-based Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. and the Netherlands-headquartered Airbus SE, said Dhingra....