June 5, 2017 2:00 pm JST
Hopes dashed for bigger role in production,
posing risk to domestic companies
TOKYO -- Japan's first F-35 stealth fighter
jet, which underwent final assembly in the country, was unveiled at Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries' Minami Komaki Plant in Aichi Prefecture on June 5. But
Japan's expectations for a larger role in the aircraft's production remain
unfulfilled.
The F-35 is the Air Self-Defense Force's
next-generation, mainstay fighter plane. The Defense Ministry plans to import
four assembled F-35s, but this time components manufactured abroad were
imported and assembled here. During the ministry's selection process for the
next mainstay fighter, the Japanese defense industry requested a role producing
some parts. But things are not going as planned.
Lockheed Martin developed the F-35 jointly
with partners from eight other countries. Japan was not involved. The aircraft
has high stealth capability that makes it difficult for radar to detect. The
ASDF will deploy them to deal with North Korean provocations and foreign
aircraft violating Japan's airspace.
Since the U.S. is already operating F-35s,
joint operations will be easier. Expectations for the new model are high
because Japan's fighter jets, including the F-2 jointly developed with the
U.S., are aging.
It remains uncertain, however, whether the
F-35 will give Japan's defense industry a boost since it may be involved only
in final assembly.
Domestic parts suppliers threatened
Japanese companies have benefited as parts
suppliers for the F-2. These parts need to be replaced periodically, keeping
the industry busy. And being involved in fighter jet production enables the
industry to transfer acquired technologies to the civilian aircraft field. One
such example is carbon fiber composite materials, the manufacturing
technologies of which came from the F-2 and were subsequently used in the
Boeing 787.
But delivery of new F-2s ended in 2011. Parts
makers that lost contracts because of this dropped out of the industry.
Selection of the next mainstay fighter jet
ended in 2011 after fierce competition between three Western rivals. In
addition to performance and price, the Defense Ministry took into account
whether the manufacturer would allow Japanese makers to join the production
process, a concern intended to help prevent the domestic defense industry from
losing competitiveness.
Despite high expectations, the only role
Japan is presently slated to play for the F-35 is in assembly. There was a plan
to produce part of the fuselage in the country when the F-35 was chosen, but it
has virtually been abandoned, according to a defense industry source. In short,
selecting the F-35 hardly benefits parts makers and reduces their role in the
aircraft industry.
Hopes dashed for bigger role in production,
posing risk to domestic companies
The ministry is planning to purchase 42
F-35s. Of them, four will be imported as finished products. The ministry will
then choose how to further replace the aging SDF fleet, but the F-35 is not a
lock because Boeing, which lost the f-35 bid to Lockheed Martin and is looking
to make a comeback.
Parts manufacturers for aircraft with
advanced stealth capabilities require high-level security clearance, which make
technology transfers difficult. As such, Japanese defense businesses need to
consider whether they could recover their investment by marginally supporting
only 42 jets.
Demand for defense equipment has helped
nurture the domestic aerospace industry after World War II. After the
seven-year hiatus imposed by the Allies, the industry began acquiring
technologies for maintenance and repair of U.S. military aircraft and for
production of SDF aircraft parts.
As appreciation for Japanese technological
prowess rose, so did the ratio of Japanese-made parts in Boeing civilian
aircraft. Now these parts account for 35% of each Boeing 787, including the
main wings. The defense sector accounts for only around 20% of aircraft
production.
Japan's aircraft industry is experiencing a
leveling-off. It is heavily dependent on Boeing, but orders from the company
are falling. Hopes for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet -- the first domestically
made aircraft in half a century -- were high, but its development has been
repeatedly delayed.
Aerospace companies have long dreamed of
transforming from parts suppliers into aircraft manufacturers. But the dream
has yet to materialize.
Defense aircraft won't be enough to salvage
the aerospace industry. If there is little prospect for manufacturing new
aircraft, the industry should try become better at maintenance of engines and
other parts, leaving bold ideas behind as they strive to stay relevant.
(Nikkei)
Source: nikkei.com
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