The Japan Defence Agency's (JDA) Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) released a request for proposals (RFP) on 16 December for the supply of large turbofan engines to equip 44 twin-engine C-X transport aircraft.
The C-X and a four-engined P-X maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) are being developed indigenously to enter service at the end of the decade.
The TRDI seeks a 50-60,000lb-thrust (223-267kN) engine, plus associated nacelle and accessories for the C-X. It is expected to receive bids from Yamada, fronting General Electric's CF6-80C2 proposal, Mitsubishi, offering a variant of the Pratt & Whitney PW4000, and Shintoa, with the Rolls-Royce Trent 500.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries would provide repair and overhaul services if the UK engine is selected. All bidders are expected to offer substantial production work to Japan. Responses to the engine RFP are due by the end of February 2003 and the TRDI is expected to choose the winner by July.
First flight of the C-X is scheduled for July 2007 with entry into service in December 2011. The C-X and P-X will have different fuselage cross-sections, but the JDA wants the pair to share common structures and systems where possible. These could include cockpit avionics, empennage and the outer wing. Ishikawajima-harima Heavy Industries is working with the TRDI to develop the indigenous XF7-10 turbofan to power the P-X.
The JDA and the US Navy have, meanwhile, agreed to extend a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on joint MPA avionics and mission system studies until the start of the system development and demonstration phase of the US Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) project due in April 2004.
Boeing, offering a 737-based solution, and Lockheed Martin proposing new-build P-3 Orions, have won US Navy study contracts for the next phase of the MMA project.
Talks have begun on an MoU to come into effect after the start of MMA and the US/Japanese project's joint working group is due to meet again in March 2003.
Source: Flight International
