Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) has developed a small turbojet engine for potential application on unmanned air vehicles.
The KJ14 is being marketed to the Japan Defence Agency (JDA) in conjunction with KHI proposals to develop new small UAVs, but no sales have yet materialised, writes Brendan Sobie.
KHI will perform high-altitude tests of the KJ14 using a test facility in the UK later this month and next month, says KHI aero-engine business development manager Rio Fukui. Testing at sea level has been completed.
KHI aims to offer the engine with 150lb thrust (0.67kN) and a 200mm (7.7in) diameter. It has developed the engine using its own funds, but hopes to secure JDA backing for a production programme that could start as early as 2006.
Fukui says the KJ14 could power small-size, low-cost target drones that may later be acquired by the JDA for the army, navy or air force. KHI is one of several Japanese manufacturers offering new potential UAVs and the JDA is expected to decide on an acquisition plan by the end of this year under its new five-year spending plan, which takes effect next April.
If funding is approved, the KJ14 would be KHI's first indigenously developed engine to be manufactured. The company now produces components for several commercial and military powerplants, but has never manufactured entire engines.
Previous attempts to enter this business have failed, with the JDA rejecting proposals for the KJ12 for large target drones and the KSX turboshaft for the Kawasaki OH-1 helicopter.
Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are now Japan's only manufacturers that produce complete military engines.
Source: Flight International
