Aircraft Profile: Mitsubishi MRJ

The Mitsubishi MRJ regional jet, manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation, (a partnership between majority owner Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Toyota Motor Corporation) is the newest entry into the highly competitive regional jet market.

Launched by deal from All Nippon Airways in March 2008 for 15 firm orders and 10 options, the MRJ is due to enter service by early 2014.

Two versions of the Pratt & Whitney PW1000G GTF geared turbofan powered MRJ are on offer - the 90-seat MRJ90 which is lead variant, and the smaller 70-seat MRJ70. Mitsubishi claims that the MRJ models will offer 30% lower operating costs than current regional jets.

Beyond the powerplant, which promises a 12% fuel burn saving, little technical detail has been released about the aircraft, but Mitsubishi says: "The MRJ will be the first regional jet to adopt composite materials for its wings and vertical fins on a significant scale.”

With an expected developmental cost of ¥150 billion ($1.5 billion), one third of the funding is being provided by the Japanese Ministry of Economy in the form of refundable launch aid with Mitsubishi also seeking outside investors for the programme in the form of local banks and companies such including Toyota.

Mitsubishi projects demand for up to 1,000 aircraft, around 20% of the 5,000 sales forecast in the 70-90-seat bracket over next 20 years.