BRENDAN SOBIE / TOKYO

JDA says powerplant will be picked for maritime patrol aircraft, pending test results

Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI) will deliver another four XF7 research engines over the next six months as it prepares to manufacture the new powerplant for the Kawasaki P-X maritime patrol aircraft (MPA)and potentially commercial aircraft.

The Japan Defence Agency (JDA) took delivery of the first XF7 in September last year and has completed over 50h of performance tests. A second engine will be delivered next month and be used for more advanced performance trials as well as water ingestion tests. Three more XF7s are to be delivered by February next year for altitude and other testing.

IHI expected to be selected as the P-X's engine supplier after the first round of XF7 tests was completed late last year. The XF7 is the only engine being reviewed by JDA for the new maritime patrol aircraft, with an expected requirement for about 350 engines.

"The tests are very successful at this point, but JDA has not decided what engine to select for the P-X officially," IHI says. "We are expecting a selection very soon."

The JDA says the XF7 is the only candidate for the P-X, saying it will be selected "if the [test] results are good and it's suitable for the P-X".

The XF7 has a high bypass-ratio fan and large generator specially designed for the MPA mission. IHI has unveiled a three-dimensional aerodynamics design compressor blade.

the JDA's anticipated XF7 selection will lead to the purchase of engines for flight testing that will begin in 2007. IHI also hopes the selection will spur a study on the XF7's commercial prospects.

The P-X engine would not be exportable under Japanese law, but Tokyo is considering whether C-X/P-X technology is applicable to new commercial aircraft. A separate study on use of the XF7 on foreign MPAs or commercial aircraft could be a natural extension.

"Recently society is changing, so we need more communication between the military and commercial side. I think JDA is willing to use commercial technology for military products and military technology for commercial products," IHI says. "At this point we don't think about it, we just concentrate on JDA aircraft. In the future, I think we have a chance to apply this engine to other aircraft."

Source: Flight International