Civil Aviation Industry - International Links

YS-11 YS-X MRJ YP-X 7J7 / YXX 777 787

The Japanese aircraft industry is characterized by a substantial number of linkages with foreign aerospace entities, including co-development arrangements, joint ventures, and coproduction and licensing agreements which provide the nation with technology transfer opportunities and civil aircraft manufacturing experience. The strongest of these relationships is between Japanese manufacturers and Boeing, which has given the country subcontracting work for the 737, 747, 757, 767, and 777. Japan produced 15 percent of the 767, including the fuselage panels, fairings, main landing gear doors, and other components, and 20 percent of the 777, including the central section of the wing, fuselage panels, and doors.

Over the past 50 years, Japan's aircraft industry has grown in partnership with foreign manufacturers for joint production of aircraft and aircraft engines. On the commercial side, consolidation of domestic airlines and creation of regional air routes created new opportunities for small regional jets. Development of Japan's indigenous civil transport plane, YSX [Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ)], also provided U.S. suppliers of advanced technology and equipment with potential opportunities to work with domestic manufacturers.

Long-term partnerships among U.S. aircraft and aircraft parts makers, domestic manufacturers, and trading firms have anchored the overwhelming U.S. presence in the Japanese market. Japan continues to offer a lucrative market for imported aircraft and aircraft parts, including aircraft engines. Long-term relationships - some spanning over fifty years - between U.S. aircraft and aircraft parts makers and Japanese manufacturers and trading firms has given the United States an overwhelming presence in Japan's market.

In the civil aircraft market, Japan's two largest carriers, Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA), have consistently selected Boeing aircraft, including cargo freighters, virtually eliminating commercial aircraft orders from Airbus. However, with Airbus newly established in Japan, competition between Boeing and Airbus is expected to heat up in the commercial aircraft market. Further growth in Japan's industry is expected to result from international joint projects (such as Boeing's 737, 777, and 787), domestic development of military patrol and transport aircraft, and feasibility studies of a new environmentally friendly small jet.

The first international joint project for Japan was the Boeing 767 transport developed by Boeing. Five airframe manufacturers participated in a consortium for this national project. The next big project is the international joint development of the Boeing 777, which started in 1991. The structure of partnership in Japan is almost the same as that for 767. For the development of 777, the Boeing's 777 Div. and Japan Aircraft Development Corporation (JADC) constitute the core promoting organizations. MHI, KHI, and FHI are taking part in the development and production and playing role of program partner. The total work share of Japanese firms will account for approximately 21% of the 777 structures.

Besides airframe manufacturers, some 30 manufacturers also have been involved in the Boeing's civil transport programs as supplier and/or subcontractor. Apart from these international joint projects, Japanese airframe manufacturers are taking part in subassembly and/or the manufacture of components of various models of the U.S. and European airframe manufacturers including the Boeing, Airbus, Fokker, and others as subcontractor.

On 19 October 2004, Japan Aircraft Development Corporation (JADC), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI), and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd (FHI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) outlining key terms and conditions for their participation in the development and production of 7E7 / 787 Dreamliner with the Boeing, and in May 2005, the Boeing and JADC, representing its three Japanese partners, MHI, KHI, FHI, signed formal contracts detailing their work agreements. In this project, MHI will be responsible for the main wing box. KHI will provide part of the forward fuselage section, the main landing gear wheel well and the main wing fixed trailing edge. FHI is focused on the center wing box and integration of the center wing box with the main landing gear wheel well. The total work share of Japanese firms will account for approximately 35% of the 787 structures. The production of components and parts is now pushed forward smoothly, and the shipment to the Boeing has started.

Japanese Industries participated in A300, 310, 320, 330, 340 series of Airbus as the subcontractor, and/or supplier. As of October 2004, 21 industries of Japan participated in the development of A380 that Airbus is proceeding to develop, and are providing the components and parts etc. to the airframe, engine and equipments. Some of the Japanese industries participating in this program include: MHI, who is supplying the front and aft lower cargo door; FHI, who is supplying the vertical tailplane (VTP) leading and trailing edges, as well as VTP tip and fairings; Nippi, who is supplying the horizontal tailplane tips; ShinMaywa Industries, who is working on the wing root fillet fairing and the wing ramp surfaces; and Bridgestone, who is supplying tires.

As an international joint development and manufacturing partner for Embraer 170 as well as its family aircraft the Embraer 175, 190 and 195, Kawasaki is responsible for designing and manufacturing main wing components that are cornerstones of aircraft technologies. Kawasaki's Gifu Works has been providing components to the Brazilian company for the smaller 70-78 seat class Embraer 170/175 since April 2001. Kawasaki entered into a contract for development and production of the wing box and other wing components of the Embraer 190/195 in May 2001 and is currently carrying out development for this. In addition to the wing stub (center wing) and mobile wings such as flaps, ailerons and spoilers, which Kawasaki has been producing under contract for the Embraer 170/175, Kawasaki has added the wing box to its lineup, thus meaning the company develops and manufactures the entire wing of the Embraer 190/195.

In late 2003 Kawasaki Aeronáutica do Brasil Indústria, ltda. (KAB), a subsidiary of Kawasaki that was established last year, completed the construction of a new plant to assemble the main wing components of the Embraer 190/195 (90-108 seat regional jet), which has been jointly designed and developed by Embraer and Kawasaki. An opening ceremony was held on April 24 for the new plant. Embraer, a world-class aircraft manufacturer of Brazil, constructed an aircraft assembly plant in the city of Gavião Peixoto, 300km northwest of São Paulo, complete with 5km runway and aircraft assembly hangar.

Japanese aircraft manufacturers, in addition, are individually participating in the international collaborative programs for the development of business and corporate jet airplane, and playing important role as a risk-sharing partner. For example, ShinMaywa is taking part in the development of Gulfstream GV. KHI has been successfully engaged in the international collaborative program of building BK-117 medium helicopter in Japan and Germany, and has also joined the program of Embraer ERJ-170 and -190 regional jet series and is manufacturing the main wing. FHI works with Raytheon on the "Hawker Horizon" and with Bell/Agusta on the "BA609" program.

It is also expected that R&D of a supersonic transport (SST) and its propulsion system will create the demand at the early 21st century. Japan has been exploring R&D and diverse studies for this aircraft. Studies including the market research, environmental effect research, and the technical research have been conducted in mainly focusing on the environmental issues such as the specific noise, the sonic boom, and the effects on the ozone layer. At the same time, the R&D on a new propulsion system has been conducted with the participation of Japanese, four major European and American engine manufacturers. In addition, the basic R&D on advanced composite structures for supersonic aircraft has been continued.

In 2005, the French aerospace industries association (GIFAS) and SJAC reached an agreement with the joint research and survey of the next generation SST and signed the Frame Agreement on the Cooperation Program. Both the societies plan the research activities for the technologies related to composite material structure, reduction of jet-engine noise and other areas, which can overcome the difficulties unique to supersonic flight. In addition to the above societies, several research centers and companies in the aerospace sector of both countries will participate in the program. On the Japanese side, the participants include JAXA, JADC and ESPR.