With new engines: Japan wants to compete with Airbus with new planes

Japan sees the failure of the Mitsubishi Spacejet as an opportunity. Aircraft manufacturer Mitsubishi completed the project, which began in 2008, in early 2023, before series production began. Development problems, long delays and heavy losses had ended the plan.

Japan wants to learn from the mistakes it has made – and use them. Kazuchika Iwata, Deputy Minister of Economy, Industry and Trade, said on Wednesday (March 27), according to the newspaper. Nikkei Asia: “It is our mission to use the public and private knowledge and experience we have gained through spaceflight.” Use it for the development and construction of completely new aircraft.

A new plane with a new engine planned

It will be created through a partnership between the government and the private sector, which together wants to invest the equivalent of 31 billion euros. The creation of the Spacejet was also started with government research funds and then implemented by Mitsubishi Aircraft. In contrast, a new aircraft development team will include aircraft manufacturers as well as companies such as aerospace suppliers and car manufacturers. Japan is open even to cooperation with foreign companies.

A new type of car is planned. “Nothing concrete has been decided yet, but the possibilities include hybrid electricity, hydrogen combustion, hydrogen fuel cells – these are next-generation technologies that we are studying and we want to increase our research,” a ministry representative told AFP. The new plane should be ready to take off in 2035.

Automatic distributors are prone to fuel cells

This means that Japan and its industry become a competitor of Airbus. European aircraft manufacturers have also set a target of 2035 to bring a passenger plane with a new type of engine to the market.

The automakers’ know-how could be of great benefit to Japan, as companies like Toyota have a lot of experience with hydrogen and fuel cells. In addition, the aerospace suppliers that supply Airbus and Boeing have extensive knowledge of commercial aircraft.

Japan’s biggest airline dream

But the country no longer wants to be satisfied with this supplier situation. “We aim to move our aviation industry from being a supplier of spare parts to one that can take action and provide value-added products,” said Deputy Transport Minister Kazuchika Iwata.

The new aircraft project is a new attempt at Japan’s big dream of rebuilding commercial aircraft. The last time was from 1962 to 1974, when the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Company created the NAMC YS-11 with a seat of 64 passengers. Japan is already active in the military aircraft market (Kawasaki XC-2, Kawasaki P-1) , search and rescue aircraft (Shinmaywa US-2) and commercial aircraft (Hondajet).