Andrzej Jeziorski/TOKYO
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has secured its first airframe components subcontract on an Airbus Industrie programme as the European manufacturer steps up its sales efforts in Japan.
The contract, awarded to Mitsubishi via Airbus partner British Aerospace, covers production of an A319/A320 wing root component, the shroud box. The Japanese company has set its sights on bigger contracts on the A340-500/600 programme as well as possible involvement in the proposed 550/650-seat A3XX.
The deal helps Mitsubishi establish a more stable flow of orders alongside the work it is doing for Boeing and Bombardier.
Boeing remains stronger in the Japanese market, having delivered about 540 aircraft compared with the 73 shipped by Airbus. The European manufacturer is keen to win a greater market share in one of the biggest economies in the world. It is understood that Japanese officials have been hinting that industrial involvement is a prerequisite to winning more orders for aircraft .
Industry sources confirm that Japanese companies are showing more enthusiasm for involvement in Airbus programmes, but they say that any A3XX participation is likely to remain on a subcontract basis because most of the risk-sharing work packages have been distributed.
The only other Japanese Airbus manufacturing contract is with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which produces A321 fuselage components. Kawasaki has confirmed that it is also interested in A3XX work.
Ryozo Tsutsui, Kawasaki executive vice-president, says that the company wants to "keep the dialogue going" with Airbus on possible A3XX participation. "How- ever, it is difficult to participate in that project because of our ties with Boeing," he adds.
Kawasaki also supplies components for both the Boeing 767 and 777 programmes.
Source: Flight International
