■26 MOD Aircraft Slated for Fiscal 2008

The Ministry of Defense (MOD) has established a fiscal 2008 budgetary plan that includes the procurement of 26 aircraft for Japan’s three self-defense forces. In making the plan, the MOD set up a policy of valuing rationalization, economization and transparency in an effort to keep costs under control. In line with this policy, the MOD scaled back its original plan to modernize 32 F-15 fighters down to 20 fighters, and reduced its budget by ￥16.8 billion.

＜Budget Details for Defense Aircraft in Fiscal 2008＞

(*in billions of yen)

（Courtesy Japan Aviation - Weekly ※）

■METI to Appropriate ￥6.9 Billion for Aerospace-related Projects

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has announced its priorities for its fiscal 2008 economic industrial policy. Funds requested for aerospace-related projects total ￥6.9 billion.

Major METI projects for fiscal 2008:

*Establishment of an advanced space system: ￥1.5 billion
*Technology development for manufacturing next-generation satellites: ￥1.3 billion
*Development of a remote-sensing satellite for natural-resource exploration: ￥1.7 billion
*Hyper-spectrum sensor development for an Earth observation satellite: ￥1.3 billion

（Courtesy Japan Aviation - Weekly ※）

■MHI Selects Five Suppliers for MRJ

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has selected five companies as partners to provide major systems for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), a next-generation regional aircraft.

Since October 2007, MHI has been marketing the advanced regional jet to potential customers and airlines worldwide, and the selection of partner suppliers is another significant step forward toward the formal decision on the MRJ program launch, currently scheduled for this spring.

The five partner suppliers－three U.S. and two Japanese companies－and the systems they will provide are:

* Parker Aerospace (head office in California with its Hydraulic Systems Division in Michigan): Hydraulic systems
* Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (head office in Connecticut with an Aerospace Division in Illinois): Electric power systems, air management system, auxiliary power unit, inert gas system, high-lift actuation system, and fire and overheat protection system
* Rockwell Collins (head office in Iowa): Flight control system
* Nabtesco Corporation (head office in Tokyo): Flight control system
* Sumitomo Precision Product Co., Ltd. (head office in Hyogo): Landing gear

Because MHI has already selected Pratt & Whitney’s next-generation Geared Turbofan (GTF) engines and Rockwell Collins for the avionics system, these five vendors represent the remainder of the suppliers for all of the aircraft’s major systems.
The MRJ is a 70- to 90-seat regional jet now under development. MHI has been conducting research and development on the MRJ as a New Energy and Industrial Development Organization technology development project.

（Courtesy Japan Aviation - Weekly ※）

※These articles were provided by Japan Aviation News Co., Ltd. who supports the objective of JA2008. 　http://aviation-news.co.jp/press_kit/index.html

MAR. 2008

■JAXA Backs R&D for Disaster Monitoring Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

The Japan Aerospace Exploration’s Aviation Program Group (APG) recently gave a presentation about its disaster monitoring unmanned aerial vehicle development program, which is now in its research and development phase.
APG aims to develop the technology within two years for advanced development of the aircraft’s autonomic functions, intelligence ability and remote control ability. APG will later develop a first-generation prototype aircraft to demonstrate the technology.
APG by 2017 plans to develop the second-generation prototype unmanned aerial vehicle that will basically fly by itself. The final target is to complete by 2026 a large-sized disaster monitoring unmanned aerial vehicle that can even transport materials.

（Courtesy Japan Aviation - Weekly ※）

■MHI to Establish Production Subsidiary in Vietnam

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) will begin building in January 2008, MHI Aerospace Vietnam Co., Ltd. (MHIVA), a wholly owned MHI subsidiary that will produce commercial aircraft components in Hanoi, Vietnam.
MHIVA is scheduled to begin assembly of metal component structures in spring 2009. With MHIVA, MHI aims to shift part of its metal component assembly work overseas, where abundant human resources are available, and to focus its domestic facilities on high-valued-added operations. MHI is the first manufacturer in the world to locate an aircraft-related production facility in Vietnam.
With support from Boeing Commercial Airplanes, plans call for MHIVA to begin production of Boeing 737 flap assemblies, with other operations to follow. This is one of the initiatives MHI has been developing with Boeing, aiming to establish an efficient supply chain to enhance its competitiveness in the global market.
In 2009 and 2010, MHIVA will assemble flaps for 2-8 airplanes every month, and for 10 airplanes per month starting in 2011.
MHIVA, capitalized at US$7 million, will start with 50 employees, to be expanded to about 200 people when the plant reaches maximum production capacity.

（Courtesy Japan Aviation - Weekly ※）

■ShinMaywa Exhibits US-2 SAR Flying Boat at Langkawi Air Show

ShinMaywa Industries, Ltd. exhibited its US-2 search-and-rescue flying boat at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Langkawi Air Show), in Malaysia, December 4-8.

Before the start of World War II, flying boats played a leading role in air transport on routes across the North Atlantic, across the Pacific and from Japan to Saipan and Saigon. Even today, flying boats continue to play important roles in search-and-rescue activities at sea and in transporting sick or injured people from remote islands that do not have airstrips.

ShinMaywa has exclusively built the US-2 for Japan’s Self-Defense Forces since after World War II, and the aircraft has been significantly upgraded through many years of operational experience. Many advanced technologies have been incorporated into the newest model, including computer-aided fly-by-wire flight controls.

The main advantage of ShinMaywa’s flying boat is that splashdown and take off can be carried out safely in open seas with waves has high as three meters.
ShinMaywa is expecting increased demand for the aircraft, especially in Southeast Asian nations with numerous islands. These countries would use the aircraft for multiple applications, including search and rescue, disaster relief, forest fire-fighting, maritime patrol, and passenger and material transport.

（Courtesy Japan Aviation - Weekly ※）

※These articles were provided by Japan Aviation News Co., Ltd. who supports the objective of JA2008. 　http://aviation-news.co.jp/press_kit/index.html

JAN. 2008

■MHI to Offer Mitsubishi Regional Jet

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has decided to begin formally offering its Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) for sale to potential customers worldwide.
With the authorization to offer (ATO) in place, MHI will enter a significant business phase toward the independent development, manufacture and marketing of the MRJ commercial aircraft.
As the aircraft industry represents an amalgam of advanced technologies, MHI’s new undertaking is expected to create a great ripple effect on other industries-an outcome indispensable to long-term industrial development in Japan. Industry experts expect that by entering the full-scale commercial aircraft business, MHI will play an important role in Japan’s key industries.
To carry out the MRJ project, MHI is in ongoing discussions with Boeing on a possible partnership. Meanwhile, MHI is considering establishing an MHI-centered company to handle the MRJ’s development, manufacture and marketing.
The MRJ is a 70- to 90-seat regional jet that will provide best-in-class operational efficiency and cabin comfort. The aircraft will be powered by Pratt & Whitney’s next-generation geared turbofan (GTF) engines, which will deliver improvements in fuel-efficiency, environmental performance and operation costs over other engines. The aircraft will be the first regional jet to use composite materials for its airframe on a significant scale.
MHI expects demand for about 5,000 MRJ-sized aircraft in the global regional jet market over the next 20 years.

（Courtesy Japan Aviation - Weekly ※）

■Kitabatake Emphasizes Necessity of Educating Aircraft Industry

The Industrial Economy Research Institute recently held an international symposium, titled The Future of the International Aircraft Industry, in Tokyo. About 300 people attended the event from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, aircraft manufacturers Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Fuji Heavy Industries and other aircraft component and parts manufacturers.
Administrative Vice Minster Takao Kitabatake of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry delivered the keynote address, touching on such issues as the growth of the Japanese economy depends on its manufacturing industry and that industry leaders must ensure Japan’s competitiveness in the Asian markets, particularly when competing with China and India. The Administrative Vice Minister also emphasized the necessity for Japan to increase its manufacturing technology to produce the most reliable aircraft, fuel cell and nuclear power generators in the world, as Japan is focusing on these core markets.
Hirofumi Katase, the Industrial Economy Research Institute’s Director-General for the aerospace division, explained three fundamental elements on which the Japanese industry must focus.

Characteristics of the aircraft industry
●High-value added industry
●Reliability-based industry
●Wide ripple-effect on other industries

World aircraft industry in a time of reformation
●Industrial reorganization has been under way across national borders
●Oligopoly industrial competition has been progressing
Japan’s policy for aircraft industry
Japan should promote the following projects:
●Play a leading role in developing civil-use aircraft that compete in the world market
●Expand Japan’s role in international joint development programs
●Increase Japan’s presence in the aircraft components, spares and materials markets

（Courtesy Japan Aviation - Weekly ※）

■TRDI and KHI Explain C-X and P-X Development Process

The Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) recently held its 2007 Defense Technology Symposium, during which TRDI and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) jointly outlined the parallel development process of C-X transport aircraft for the Air Self-Defense Force and the P-X maritime patrol aircraft for the Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Engineer Etsuro Sento traced the history of the C-X and P-X’s concurrent development that TRDI carried out. He also discussed the first flight of the P-X, and explained the background of sharing the two aircraft’s common airframe structure and onboard equipment.

KHI chief engineer Masayuki Kubo, who has the played a role as chief engineer of the C-X and P-X development programs for six years, introduced three major topics related to the concurrent development:

●Although each the C-X and P-X is an independent model with respectively different missions, KHI realized efficient development by implementing as much commonality between the aircraft as possible.
●A specialized design team was organized independently for each set of parts and components, with each team being responsible for both aircraft.
●The program used digital mockups as much as possible. During the development process, drawings were digitalized and arranged in an integrated database for common use.

（Courtesy Japan Aviation - Weekly ※）

※These articles were provided by　Japan Aviation News Co., Ltd. who supports the objective of JA2008. 　http://aviation-news.co.jp/press_kit/index.html

NOV. 2007