BRENDAN SOBIE / SINGAPORE

Japanese companies eye production involvement, with Boeing to determine work allocation later this year

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) is seeking to build the Boeing 7E7 wing as part of a Japanese proposal to manufacture up to 35% of the airframe and help pay for development. Boeing will not make a final selection of suppliers until the end of the year, but the Japan Aircraft Industries (JAI) association has earmarked several 7E7 components as suitable for Japanese manufacturers.

As well as MHI's desire to build the wing, Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) is said to be targeting the fuselage, with Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) considering appropriate for the centre wing box.

Meanwhile, as in the 767 and 777 programmes, Japan Aircraft Development Corporation (JADC) is seeking to lead development of the project, using JAI members and government funding. JADC is hoping to repeat the Sonic Cruiser development agreement it secured with Boeing before that project was shelved last year. Industry sources say the ministry of economy, trade and industry (METI) has been tasked with determining the level of development funding to be provided by the government.

On the 767 and 777 programmes, the production contracts were eventually passed to Japan's Commercial Airplane Company (CAC), which in turn subcontracted work to JAI member companies. The 7E7 work may follow the same path once it enters the production phase. For the 777, CAC has a 21% workshare with FHI producing the centre wing box; KHI the centre and forward fuselage; and MHI the tail and aft fuselage. JAI's two smaller members, ShinMaywa Industries and Nippi, expect to receive small portions of any 7E7 contract.

If MHI were to receive the 7E7 wing contract it would gain the most workshare of the JAI members. It already supplies wings for the Bombardier Challenger 300 and Global Express business jets, but would have to convince Boeing to outsource the traditionally in-house wing manufacture. Boeing is understood to be considering outsourcing the wing, with Alenia and Vought also under consideration. Boeing says it is in talks with Alenia, FHI, KHI, MHI and Vought. Airframe work allocation will be determined late this year, with formal contracts coming early next year if the programme is launched.

Source: Flight International